Pucks and Pitchforks
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Players With Previous Ties New Jersey Devils Should Target

By Mike Luci

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 07: New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) skates during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders on February 7, 2019 at the PrudentialCenter in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 07: New York Islanders right wing Jordan Eberle (7) skates during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the New York Islanders on February 7, 2019 at the PrudentialCenter in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Andrew Cogliano (LW), Dallas Stars

Again, this is the kind of player I can just see Shero making a trade for that would be questioned at first, but slowly make sense as the nature of the deal settles. If Shero acquired a player like Cogliano, I’d imagine most Devils fans would initially react the same way they did to the Brian Boyle signing two summers ago, but develop an equivalent level of appreciation for Cogliano.

Not only does Shero seem to love acquiring former Anaheim Ducks and Edmonton Oilers (Cogliano is both), but he and Hynes seem insistent on maintaining a veteran presence in their lineup to compliment Travis Zajac. During his years with Edmonton, Cogliano played one season with Taylor Hall (2010-2011). With the Ducks, he played parts of four seasons with Kyle Palmieri (2011-2015) and six seasons with Sami Vatanen (2012-2018).

Cogliano will be 32 when next season starts and has two years remaining on his current contract, which brandishes a $3.25 million AAV. Touted for his lengthy ironman streak while in Anaheim, Cogliano could serve as an anchor for the third line that’s capable of playing a top-six role when necessary.

Although he was just acquired by the Dallas Stars this season, it’s not uncommon for NHL teams to flip players they’ve acquired that haven’t even played a full season with them—look at the Vegas Golden Knights trading Tomas Tatar and Nashville Predators trading Ryan Hartman. The Dallas Stars could potentially move players to order free up cap space for re-signing their restricted free agents like Mattias Janmark, Jason Dickinson and Esa Lindell, along with being more flexible to re-sign pend unrestricted free agents like Matts Zuccarello and make other improvements this offseason.

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