Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: 5 Pittsburgh Penguins To Target After Their Sweep

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 13: Kris Letang #58,Phil Kessel #81,Sidney Crosby #87 and Brian Dumoulin #8 of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk during a stop in play in the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on November 13, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 13: Kris Letang #58,Phil Kessel #81,Sidney Crosby #87 and Brian Dumoulin #8 of the Pittsburgh Penguins talk during a stop in play in the third period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on November 13, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Justin Schultz

The New Jersey Devils desperately need defense. While Kris Letang seems like the obvious choice here, taking on that contract is just too much to do at this juncture of his career. Letang is owed $7.25 million for three more seasons. With his injury history, and the fact he’s on the wrong side of 30, it’s just not feasible.

Schultz, on the other hand, might be the perfect defenseman to trade for at this point. He’s on the final year of a three-year deal. He’s only making $5.5 million this season, and his deal is easily movable.

The major issue with this is Schultz has a modified no-move clause in his contract. He can submit a ten-team list to block trades. The Devils might be on that list after how last season went. Shero would need to do some convincing to get this player to decide he wants to put on the red and black.

With Schultz, the Devils could actually go throughout the season with him and Sami Vatanen on their final years, and they could decide which one they want to keep at the end of the season. Both players are around the same age, and would likely cost around the same (probably close to $6 million per season). It would be great for this season, and give the Devils flexibility for next season when they need to pay Taylor Hall.

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