New Jersey Devils Trade Deadline Profile: Alex Galchenyuk

The New Jersey Devils desperately need another scorer who could make something happen on the power play. If GM Ray Shero makes a move, hopefully he brings someone in who can light the lamp. Someone who’s proven he could do that in the past in Alex Galchenyuk.

The New Jersey Devils need to make a move if they want to truly make a run at the playoffs. If that wasn’t clear before, it’s now glaringly obvious after Sunday night’s game against the Boston Bruins.

The Devils had seven power plays throughout the game. Seven! Yet, the Devils couldn’t score one power play goal. In fact, the Bruins scored more goals while the Devils had the man advantage than the Devils did.

That wasn’t a one-game fluke, either. After the power play was running the show early in the season, it’s fallen to under 20 percent. In the past 10 games, the Devils are 4-for-32 on the power play. For those without a calculator, that’s 12.5%.

Clearly, the Devils need someone outside of Taylor Hall and Kyle Palmieri who can perform on the man advantage. The team could look outside the organization to make a move for a scorer.

Alex Galchenyuk has not been the same guy since his name began circulating as a possible trade candidate. He had his first 30 goal season in 2015-16, but fell off immediately.

This season has been his worst since becoming a full time NHL starter. He’s only scored 12 goals, while dealing with Claude Julien demoting him to the fourth line at times this season. The Canadiens in general can’t get out of their own way, and will likely miss the playoffs despite having a healthy Carey Price.

Even though Galchenyuk is having a rough year, only Palmieri has scored as many goals as he has on the power play. Both players have seven goals, while Hall sits at six goals. No other Devils player has more than five. Clearly, Galchenyuk can perform with the man advantage.

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Galchenyuk just signed a three-year, $14.7 million contract. The means he has two more years after this one under contract. If Shero believes that Galchenyuk can turn it around after two below-average seasons, then that makes a trade more desirable.

What would the Canadiens ask for in return for Galchenyuk?

I think the Canadiens are looking to bring a center back for the 23 year old. When they drafted him 3rd overall, they thought he’d be the center of the future. Now, it’s clear to them that he isn’t what they thought he was. The Canadiens also want a player who can contribute right away. That points to John Quenneville to me.

While he’s young, I can’t see the Canadiens getting a king’s ransom for Galchenyuk. So I think a trade looks something like this:

Canadiens trade Alex Galchenyuk and a 2018 sixth-round pick for John Quenneville, Nick Lappin, a 2018 fifth-round pick (Coyotes pick) and a 2019 third-round pick.

Next: New Jersey Devils Trade Deadline Profile: Mike Hoffman

On paper, it may look like a small package for a 23 year old with a 30 goal season under his belt, especially one who just re-signed, but the Canadiens seem desperate to get rid of him. If Kid Q can come back from his injury and perform, then he could be the center the Canadiens want for now and in the future.

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