New Jersey Devils are in the midst of another season where playoffs hopes are looking bleak. If they end up missing the playoffs, it’ll mark five straight years the team missed the postseason. Despite all this, New Jersey has some positives coming out of this season.
To look ahead to the near future the trade deadline is coming up quick. This is a key time in the Devils season and future as they have some players they may be able to flip for a nice profit. The one main name that comes to mind is P.A. Parenteau. Picked up off waivers to start the year from the Islanders, Parenteau has been a key factor for the Devils this year. Kyle Quincey is another option that comes to mind as someone the Devils can move at the deadline, teams always get desperate for defensive help down the stretch. The Devils are in the driver seat come trade deadline time. Down below there are some options on what the Devils can do at the deadline.
Trade Preview
P.A. Parenteau
For the Devils, trading P.A. Parenteau makes most sense. He was picked up for nothing. He has a cheap contract. Turning him into a draft pick or two is a very logic move for General Manager Ray Shero.
Parenteau has had a very nice season so far. He played 54 games with 13 goals and 12 assists (25 points). He also racked up seven powerplay points, something that has been an issue for the Devils all season. This is a very similar situation to what the Devils did with Lee Stempniak last season. I think Parenteau can fetch anywhere between a second to third round pick which would be a great pick up for a Devils team already with a ton of draft picks.
Kyle Quincey
Another player the Devils picked up in the offseason that carries a very reasonable contract is Kyle Quincey. Quincey has an expiring contract at the end of the season and is a solid back end defenseman that can help a team in need at the deadline. I believe Quincey can get back a fourth round draft pick in the right market.
Devante Smith-Pelly
To a contending team down the stretch, Devante Smith-Pelly could be a nice addition for a team that needs a third or fourth liner that will grind night in and night out. Smith-Pelly has been in and out of the Devils lineup this season, but he showed last year that he can score goals in a flurry. If he finds the right situation it can be beneficial. A mid-round draft pick could be the return for him.
Jacob Josefson
Here’s a player that just never met the Devils expectations. Still a nice player, Jacob Josefson just hasn’t produced the way everyone was hoping. He is a restricted free agent at the end of the season, so there is an option to try and give him a fresh start. A third or fourth round draft pick would be reasonable for him.
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Keith Kinkaid
New Jersey’s backup goalie is an option to move at the deadline. Some teams are in need of goalie help, and Kinkaid has been a pretty decent backup to Corey Schneider over the past couple years. Devils have a decent amount of goalies down in the system, so moving Kinkaid is an option at the very least.
He holds decent stats posting a 2.59 goals against average and a .920 save percentage. Kinkaid can get back mid-round draft picks or possibly get paired with another player to sweeten the pot.
Adam Henrique
Okay hear me out here. No Devils fan wants to trade fan favorite Henrique including myself, but to be honest there is not much fire power in the Devils lineup or farm system to pick up a solid player another way. The Devils are in need of a top defenseman and Henrique might be able to grab that much needed defensive help. Henrique can bring back a haul if paired with some draft picks.
Draft Picks
New Jersey has a whole bunch of draft picks, maybe trading away some of them in bulk can bring back some much needed NHL ready help offensively and defensively. The team has eighteen picks in the next two years. Nine in 2017, seven of the nine in the top four rounds. If there is an offensive talent on the market, the Devils have the picks to get them if that’s what the team is looking to get.
Thanks for the read and remember Lets Go Devils!