Lou Lamoriello has a long to-do list this off-season, and at the top of that is bringing in some help up front to help the team's 28th ranked offense.
Mike Cammalleri aside, no Devils player scored more than 16 goals and - despite Cory Schneider's best efforts - that hindered their ability to put together any string of wins.
The 2015 free agent class is weak, and offers little in the way of established top-6 forwards, so Lamoriello is likely going to have to explore the trade market to get what he wants.
One team that comes to mind as a potential dance partner is the Edmonton Oilers.
While Craig MacTavish previously said the team wouldn't trade any of Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Jordan Eberle, Taylor Hall or Nail Yakupov, that was before a) the Oilers won the draft lottery and; b) Pete Chiarelli took over as the general manager.
While there is no guarantee Chiarelli will move any of those guys, general managers like to put their stamp on the team they take over, and that often involves making some noteworthy changes.
Realistically Nugent-Hopkins and Hall are probably safe (as they should be), but would Chiarelli be open to moving Eberle, Yakupov, or even Leon Draisaitl?
The Bruins had been linked to Eberle quite a bit over the last year so it's certainly possible Chiarelli is high on him and won't deal him, but it's also possible he moves Eberle to fill some of the team's other needs.
Those needs, of course, are defense and goaltending.
New Jersey could certainly help out in regards to the former. There's been talk Eric Gelinas is available, Jon Merrill could probably also be had, and the Devils may be willing to move the 6th overall pick - where highly touted defense prospects Ivan Provorov and Zach Werenski will likely be available - in the right deal.
Nothing may happen, but Edmonton and New Jersey have pieces that could help fill each other's needs, so it shouldn't be surprising if a deal comes to fruition.
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