Missed Free Agent Suddenly Available for Devils Trade

Last summer, the New Jersey Devils were close to reeling in forward Jonathan Marchessault via free agency. However, he left the Devils hanging after he opted for the Nashville Predators. Yet, after one season in Tennessee, he’s suddenly available for a potential Devils trade.

READ MORE: Bold Devils Trade Target Goalscorer Could be Closer to Home Than Realized

Things didn’t go according to plan for the Predators last season. After they signed Marchessault, Steven Stamkos, and Brady Skjei, the belief was that Nashville was going to be a top team in the Central Division and Western Conference.

However, the chemistry just didn’t click, and the Predators will undergo changes this offseason.

One of those changes could be quickly moving on from Marchessault. According to Frank Seravalli, the veteran forward is open to a trade.

“I think it’s a relatively low-risk move (for interested teams), and I think he’s open to the idea,” Seravalli explained on DailyFaceoff Live. “In a perfect world, he would love to go to the Montreal Canadiens & go home. I don’t know how open they are to that, given the term on his deal. But you can see him helping a pretty good offense already to take that next step. He seems like a true Marty St. Louis type player, doesn’t he?”

If Kyle Palmieri doesn’t do it for you, how about a 40-goalscorer who comes at a cost controlled $5.5 million over the next four seasons? As the cap rises for the next several years, that cap hit only becomes even more palatable.

Marchessault does hold a 15-team no-trade clause. But, it’s difficult to imagine the Devils being on that list, seeing as he almost signed on as a free agent. Further, you could see his list expanding if he wants a fresh start.

The reality is, when Tom Fitzgerald was chasing Marchessault in free agency last summer, he likely was going to hand the French-Canadian forward a similar contract. However, now he’s one year into that contract, something Fitzgerald was willing to do before.

Sure, he might want to go home to Montreal. But, does Montreal want him? Perhaps, or perhaps not.

Thus, the Devils should be knocking on Barry Trotz’s door.

The ongoing theme in the offseason will be to acquire goal scoring. Marchessault brings that, and more, as a former Conn Smythe winner and Stanley Cup Champion who boasts 102 games of playoffs experience.

Perhaps there is a pathway to make this happen while also making the money work.

The Predators have previously expressed interest in Dawson Mercer. Certainly that’s not a suggestion to make a one-for-one deal where the Devils trade a valuable 23-year-old for a 35-year-old scorer on the back-end of his career.

However, other assets could be included that would make the potential Devils trade enticing for both sides.

Mercer’s $4 million cap hit helps soften the blow of taking on Marchessault’s $5.5 million, and helps the Devils find some goal scoring they’re seeking.

Look, Marchessault’s 2024-25 wasn’t like his 42-goal 2023-24 when he skated for the Vegas Golden Knights.

Last season with the Predators, Marchessault potted half his previous goal total, netting 21 goals and 56 points on a floundering Nashville team.

The worry is that Marchessault’s 21-goal 2024-25 is a regression that he cannot rebound from. However, the Predators are a flawed forward group, built by prioritizing the wing as opposed to the center position.

Stamkos, at this point in his career, is more of a winger. And Ryan O’Reilly isn’t the playmaker to compliment Marchessault’s ability to net goals.

Line Marchessault up next to the likes of Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, however, and suddenly the Devils have a complete top-line that is even more dangerous than they were before.

Like Seravalli said, it’s a low-risk move to bring in a player who knows how to score with a favorable cap hit that only appreciates as the cap rises.

Fitzgerald came in second last summer in pursuit of the free agent forward. He doesn’t have to fall short again this offseasn.

For more Devils news, visit New Jersey Hockey Now, subscribe to our YouTube and like our Facebook page.

Follow us on 𝕏:

@NJDHockeyNow, @JamesNicholsNHL

And on Threads:

@JamesNicholsNHL