New Jersey Devils: Assessing Potential Erik Karlsson Trade

The rumor mill is flying off the handle in Ottawa as the best defenseman in the league Erik Karlsson may be available. One NHL Network analyst proposed a trade to the New Jersey Devils.

It’s the wild and crazy world that is the National Hockey League. Possibly the best player in the entire league could be available in a trade this season. Erik Karlsson is doing his best to carry the Ottawa Senators back to contention, but it hasn’t worked out. Despite a win against the New York Rangers Wednesday night (thanks for that, by the way), the team is still closer to the Eastern Conference basement than they are to the playoffs.

With rumors swirling, the usual suspects have been named in fake trade talks. There are proposals that would send him to the Edmonton Oilers. Others say he could be going to the Rangers (yuck). The usual suspects, as I said.

However, one NHL analyst had a surprising team on his radar. EJ Hradek with gave a potential trade between the New Jersey Devils and Ottawa Senators that puts possibly the best player in the league in red and black. (Note: jump to 1:50 of the video for the prediction)

So, that’s Erik Karlsson and a 2019 second-round pick (if he signs long term) in exchange for Damon Severson, Pavel Zacha, Mike McLeod and two first-round picks. My goodness that’s a lot to give up for one player, but this isn’t just any player. This is the best defenseman in the NHL, and it’s not close.

So, hypothetically, should the Devils do this trade? If the team makes this move, they would keep a majority of the team they have one the ice right now. The Devils still keep Taylor Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Marcus Johansson and more of the team that’s carried them to this point in the season. Zacha has struggled for much of the season, and has had trouble getting into the lineup. McLeod was supposed to be the player to break out this season, but that ended up being Bratt instead. Severson has left much to be desired, and replacing him with Karlsson would be insane.

The part of the trade that makes you take a step back is the two first-round picks. Devils’ GM Ray Shero has been very good with his draft picks since he joined the Devils. He’s been able to completely rebuild this team within three drafts. Sure, getting the first-overall pick helps, but he could have picked Nolan Patrick and this looks completely different.

My gut tells me the Devils have to do this deal. Especially if the team has a guarantee to re-sign Karlsson long term. This takes the Devils biggest weakness, and completely changes it’s image overnight. Karlsson makes this team one of the NHL’s elite. Take a top-ten offense, add in what would become a very good defense, then put Cory Schneider as the cherry on top, and I would put this Devils team against anyone in the league.

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Sure, some could say you’re mortgaging the future for one player, but this isn’t Matt Duchene. This is a fortified superstar of epic proportions. This is beyond anything most Devils fans can imagine. Since the days of Martin Brodeur’s prime, the Devils haven’t had a “best player in the world” at any position. Most fans miss those times. In one fell swoop, Shero can make it happen again.

Obviously, this is all speculation. For all we know, the Devils are on Karlsson’s no trade list. If Karlsson becomes available, every team in the league will be giving their best pitches. It’s also a very good possibility that the Senators aren’t ready to give up on this season despite the really rough stretch. There are many reasons for this not to happen, but if it could there’s no reason not to.