The New Jersey Devils will take on the Detroit Red Wings on their return from Christmas break. While the Devils don’t need to make any major moves, trading for Gustav Nyquist could provide a veteran in the bottom six.
During the Christmas break, many New Jersey Devils fans have been clamoring for hockey. With that, comes some crazy thoughts. Here at Pucks and Pitchforks, we are no different.
Looking ahead at the schedule, the next game brings the Detroit Red Wings to the Prudential Center. Those same Red Wings are in a major predicament.
The Wings have just $12.8 million in cap space going into the offseason. In most years, that isn’t a major problem, but this team has a lot of players to sign.
Dylan Larkin and Anthony Mantha are the future of this franchise, and will both be up for a new contract at the same time. Based on what players are making, even restricted free agents, those two will likely take up all of that remaining $12 million.
That means the Red Wings will be looking to unload some salary. One of the players that could be moved is Gustav Nyquist.
Do the Devils need Nyquist? No. This team has a great crop of forwards from top to bottom. However, when you get the chance to get a player like Nyquist for the price, it would be hard to pass up.
This would add even more scoring to the bottom six from a player who could easily move into the top forwards on the team. Yes, Nyquist is coming off two bad seasons, but his play this year proves he can put bad play behind him.
Nyquist had 10 goals and seven assists, just two goals off last year’s total.
Again, the Devils don’t need Nyquist to compete this season. However, if we’ve learned anything about how Ray Shero is as a GM, he makes moves that make the team better even if the team looks good already.
Nyquist has another year on his contract at just $4.75 million cap hit. That’s the kind of contract the Devils like to deal with. It would help this team this season and next.
The big question becomes, is it worth it to bring the player on?
More from Pucks and Pitchforks
- Should New Jersey Devils Try Load Management With Vitek Vanecek?
- New Jersey Devils Will Prove That Last Year Wasn’t A Fluke
- New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes’ Playmaking Will Outshine His Mistakes
- New Jersey Devils: Chase Stillman’s Performance Causes Concern
- Can Devils Fans Separate Zach Parise Heartbreak From Achievements?
Trading for Nyquist means that another player has to sit. Even trading a middling prospect or a middle round pick means the Devils have to sit a player like Blake Coleman or Stefan Noesen. Can Nyquist match the effort those two bring on a nightly basis?
This trade is very preliminary. The cost would be low to acquire the player, but the cost could be in sitting another player. It would be hard to make the argument that anyone should sit, even if it’s an upgrade on paper.
Sure, the Devils could deal with a major injury, but they can cross that bridge when they get there. If that happens, I’m sure this trade could still be on the table.
Nyquist would fit onto this Devils team right now, but the cost of sitting a different player may not be worth it.