New Jersey Devils: Jean-Sebastien Dea On Waivers Shouldn’t Surprise Anyone

The New Jersey Devils placed Jean-Sebastien Dea on waivers on Tuesday. While he once showed prospect, his recent play should make this move unsurprising.

Jean-Sebastien Dea is the newest New Jersey Devils player on the roster. He joined the team on September 28th as the team was preparing to head to Sweden and Switzerland. Ray Shero claimed him off his old team, the Pittsburgh Penguins, after they tried to force him through waivers.

Everything had the makings of working out perfectly. Dea scored three goals in his first four games with the squad. He had a knack for finding turnovers, and could finish on his efforts. It seemed like this was going to be another Ray Shero steal that he’s become so famous for.

Well, that officially ended on Tuesday. The Devils placed the 24-year-old on waivers. That means every other team in the league can claim him for free.

Some Devils fans were surprised by the move, but what did they expect? The move likely allows the Devils to take Steve Santini off injured reserve. They needed a spot, and if sending Drew Stafford to Binghamton is off the table then this was the move to make.

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Sure, they could have sent Brett Seney back down to the minors, but he’s been mostly fine while in the lineup. Dea just has not produced, and the Devils have been losing. He hasn’t had a goal since the fourth game of the season, and he only has points in one game this month.

Dea is fine at most of the intangibles, which is something you want from a fourth liner, but the Devils have too many players that mimic his skill set. He was a shot in the dark by Shero, and it doesn’t look like it is going to work out.

It would not surprise me if Dea gets claimed by another team. His skill set would work out in the right system with the right surrounding cast. The Devils of last year would probably be a good fit for Dea, but a team desperate for scoring is not where he should be. If he passes through waivers, great. He can grind his way back up through Binghamton, and show he deserves to be an every-day NHL player.

Dea just didn’t do enough to make himself a permanent fixture on this roster. We will find out soon whether this means he will no longer be a member of the team for good, and if another team gives him a shot in the NHL.