New Jersey Devils Should Overpay For TJ Oshie

The New Jersey Devils are going into the offseason with a ton of cap space with not much to spend it on. TJ Oshie seems to be the crown jewel of NHL Free Agency. The team needs to make a serious play to get him.

General Manager Ray Shero has made some very good moves since coming to New Jersey. He traded Adam Larsson (current game-winning goal in a playoff game notwithstanding) for the New Jersey Devils’ star Taylor Hall. He sent two draft picks for Kyle Palmieri, who has been so much better than expected when he arrived.

Despite these moves, the Devils still see themselves as bottom dwellers in the NHL standings.

There are many reasons for this. The incredible depth that carried the Devils to the playoffs for a better part of two decades is no longer the case. The defense is atrocious. Cory Schneider had a year-long slump. The offense still relies on five players to carry the load for 12.

This is why the Devils should make a splash in this year’s free agency.

Since Josh Harris took over ownership, the team hasn’t really looked to spend big money on players, but there is a lot on the line this year. Head coach John Hynes is on the chopping block and can’t afford another bad season. Shero himself may not be safe, especially since one bad season caused teams like the Los Angeles Kings to discard their GM. The decision-making brass for the Devils know big moves need to be made. That’s why the Devils should look into throwing money at TJ Oshie.

Listen, I understand that this is a crazy proposition. Throwing money during free agency at players who aren’t proven superstars works almost never. The players who came out with the most money last year were Loui Eriksson, Milan Lucic, Andrew Ladd and Kyle Okposo. None of those players are the best on a Stanley Cup contender.

Oshie finds himself in a similar position. He is poised to get overpaid by a team looking to make a difference. The Devils are that team.

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If the Devils give Oshie a contract that pays him $6.5 million over five years, that would keep the team’s top six together for about three years. He could either player on the top line with Travis Zajac and Hall, or the team can keep Palmieri on that line and move Oshie to the “second line” with Adam Henrique and Michael Cammalerri (please don’t get injured). That gives the team a legit scoring threat that could move down talent to lines they really should play on.

The Devils could make this move and still sign a top-notch defenseman, re-sign Beau Bennett, and play around with their third and fourth line.

Admittedly, defense is the Devils number one priority. If signing Oshie would hurt their chances at bringing in a Karl Azner or, even better, a Kevin Shattenkirk, then it isn’t an option. If the money can work, the Devils should look into Oshie.

Then there is the wild card in this situation: Ilya Kovalchuk.

Kovi’s desire to play in the NHL again puts a monkey wrench into the Devils offseason plan. Say he does come back; how much should he expect to be worth? If he says he wants to prove himself (unlikely), would he play for $3 million on the first season so he can cash in one more time?

That monkey wrench aside, the Devils need to do their due diligence on Oshie. He could force teams to pay attention to the Devils after a year when they were an after thought. Whatever team pays him this offseason will overpay him. He is one of the best players in a very weak class. The Devils need to be willing to open up the pocketbook if the player fits. This player can fit.

He’s coming off his best season with 33 goals and 23 assists. The 30-year-old winger is finally finding his stride, although player with Alexander Ovechkin has to help. He’s playing even better in the playoffs this season.

Oshie is a risk. A major risk. Prior to this season, his best moment was during a shootout, a part of the NHL the league is making less important. Where the Devils are now, to improve next season the team needs to make the big risk and hope the team can work it out. If the Devils want to compete, they need to make these kinds of moves and hope the young guns that are near ready to play can fill the rest of the holes.