The New Jersey Devils have a lot of cap space available and making trades with one specific team has worked out well in the past.
In the last day with the media, the New Jersey Devils had some interesting quotes about this past season and the future. Everyone else can dissect certain quotes from Taylor Hall or head coach John Hynes, but we’re not here for that right now. This is about a few quotes made from general manager Ray Shero.
He said something along the lines of needing to add some more talent, and that the time to spend money is coming. What if that spending doesn’t come in free agency? What if it comes via trade? Shero has made some great trades in his tenure with the New Jersey Devils. Specifically with the Edmonton Oilers. He traded a second-pair defenseman in Adam Larson in exchange for Taylor Hall. That guy has been pretty good for the Devils.
He also traded for Patrick Maroon at the deadline last season and Maroon was fantastic in helping the Devils end a playoff drought. We’re not going to make this much about those two trades, just pointing them out because of the fact that the Devils have a recent history of great trades with that organization.
There have been some internet rumors surrounding the possibility of the Oilers trading their second best player, Leon Draisaitl. If Ray Shero is serious about spending and adding talent, he should be on the phone with Keith Gretzky or whoever they decide to eventually run the ship right now. If a 50-goal man becomes available, you see what you need to do to make that happen.
In 2018-19, Leon Draisaitl had 50 goals and 55 assists for 105 points. Now, are those numbers a bit inflated because of the fact that he plays often with Connor McDavid? Perhaps they are. That does not, however, mean that Draisaitl is not an elite player. Lots of guys have played with McDavid and underwhelmed as far as the numbers go. It takes talent in your own right to be that great with other great players. There is a reason he was drafted third overall.
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He also has a history of playing on a line with Devils forward Taylor Hall. In Hall’s final year with Edmonton, McDavid missed some time with a long-term injury, so he and Draisaitl played together. They had some chemistry and they could absolutely regain that here in New Jersey, especially on the power play. This could also be a move that makes Taylor Hall see what is building and convinces him to sign a long-term deal.
The reason money is brought up when talking about Draisaitl is the fact that he is already locked up to a lucrative deal. He is headed into the second year of his eight-year 68 million dollar deal. It is a cap hit of $8.5 million per year. That is a lot for one guy, but this man is worth the money. He is a very good player who makes players around him better and also can benefit from having great players around him.
The Devils do have some great players to surround him with like Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and possibly a top-three overall draft pick. If the Devils added a Leon Draisaitl caliber player, they would have one of the best top sixes in the entire NHL. If Ray has this opportunity presented to him and it isn’t an outrageous price, they should do it.
If they win a top two pick in the lottery than it might not be worth it to trade their 1st-round pick, but if it is anything else it is a conversation worth having. It is time for this franchise to take a step forward. The Washington Capitals and the Pittsburgh Penguins have aging stars and you would think they will only be elite teams for 3-4 more years, and the Columbus Blue Jackets are possibly losing half of their impact players to free agency this summer. There is room for the Devils in the Metropolitan Division in the immediate and distant future.