In just seven more weeks another season filled with complete disappointment, underachievement, injuries and excuses will conclude for the New Jersey Devils. This is the third season in a row in which NJ came in with big expectations and has not even come close to meeting them. The once very young and still young core took a giant step onto the scene with an explosive 2022-23 campaign, however since then it's been nothing but moonwalking. The Devils have been taking massive steps backwards as a group in all of the last three seasons has left the organization in dire need of change.
Many have been calling for the heads of GM Tom Fitzgerald as well as that of Head Coach Sheldon Keefe. That however doesn't seem to be happening. If ownership had planned on the Fitzgerald firing, it's doubtful he'd be behind the wheel for this week's trade deadline. Same could be said for Keefe, who if they didn't trust, should have been let go early in the New Year when playoff hopes could have been salvaged. So if not them, who goes?
Several media outlets have been claiming NJ is poised for a major "roster altering" shakeup. Some said it would happen before the Olympic break, it didn't. Some say it will happen this week, will it? After all we've been hearing about Dougie Hamilton being shipped out since last Spring, it hasn't happened. We have been hearing about Quinn Hughes coming to NJ for two years now, it hasn't happened and has died for the time being. We've hear about adding a top six scorer for two plus years, it hasn't happened.
At this point, I am okay with only the Hughes brothers, Arseni Gritsyuk, Lenni Hameenaho and Gavin McKenna(who we are drafting after we win the lottery this summer) being the untouchables. Keeping both Jack and Luke still gives us the best chance to acquire Quinn. Despite the success in Minnesota, I still feel the Devils have the edge at acquiring the dynamic D man over any other suitors. While that edge is now slight, it still exists.
In the next tier is the guys I'd trade trade only if there's a great return and that list is the short one below:
- Nico Hischier: Our captain. Lack of success here is not from a lack of trying. One of the games elite two way centers, Hischier can do it all and if the Devils ever can put a better roster around him, Nico could be even better. With one more year left on his contract, I'd much rather re-sign him then trade him even if the return is just "good".
- Timo Meier: Fans love to hate Timo, and he can be streaky at times. However, when the stakes are highest Timo's style shines ie. these past Olympics. He creates space for himself and teammates and his AAV is less of a burden as the cap rises. Meier is one of the few Devils that can factor into games without scoring. Meier is a slightly less efficient version of Brady Tkachuk, and you can never have too many of those types of players.
- Brett Pesce: Not his best season, but Pesce is a guy that can really solidify a D corps. With four more years left at $5.5m, he would be hard to replace.
- Simon Nemec: It's been almost a full year of big goals at big times for Nemec. At just 22 years old, the Slovak is due a huge raise this summer. While his trade value is high, and his cap hit is about to be as well, Nemo is a piece I'd like to hold onto unless the return is elite.
Then there's the next group. I like a lot of these guys but they're not essential pieces of the puzzle for success in the future; Brown, Glass, Dillon & Kovacevic round out this group.
Finally there's the group of guys that I think are on the weaker side when it comes to the mental aspect. Those that lack the physical and or mental toughness to preform for 82 games plus playoffs; Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, Jonas Siegenthaler, Paul Cotter, and of course in his own team sabotaging category, Dougie Hamilton.
- Jesper Bratt: A huge disappointment this year. In past year's some would try to argue that Bratt, not Jack Hughes was the key to NJ's success. The 27 year old Swede had another chance to prove that this year and completely disappeared. Being benched(unfairly) at the Olympics, definitely doesn't help build the confidence back up for Bratt, who has compiled enough secondary assists this season to somewhat mask his lackluster season. Unlike Hughes, Bratt makes little to no impact if he isn't scoring.
- Dawson Mercer: The ceiling at one time seemed high, now it's like an attic crawlspace. One thing you can say is Mercer is physically at every game(he has not missed a single tilt in his 388 game career), but seldom on the scoresheet, and seldom a noticeable player. Perhaps change of scenery can salvage this once hopeful 30 goal scorer, if not his sophomore season will prove to be his career best.
- Jonas Siegenthaler: I haven't been impressed with 71 for quite sometime. Maybe its a combination of being stuck with Dougie Hamilton most of the time, or maybe he just isn't as good as we initially thought. His failure to clear a puck in the final mnutes for Switzerland, cost his country a chance at a medal. I no longer trust him and despite a decent fight the other night, he plays a bit too soft for a guy his size.
- Paul Cotter: This guy has been missing longer than Nancy Guthrie (one goal off of his knee cap in was his only point in 25 games the other night). Useful in the shootout, useless in far too many other aspects of the game. With his good size, speed and skill, he should be a hybrid between David Clarkson and Miles Wood. Instead he makes me wish we still had Reid Boucher.
- Dougie Hamilton: Do I have to really say anything here? The reason Quinn Hughes isn't a Devil and the reason the Devils are not in the playoffs. Dumb, deaf and blind, or at least that's how he has played for the majority of the last two seasons.
Honorable mention to the goaltending tandem that inexplicably received lengthy extensions from Fitz. Both should make way for Daws, Malek and or Yegorov...
With that said pretty much everyone has a no move clause, so good luck with the retool!
Anyone I didn't mention, you're also free to leave. Thank you for your service..