Pucks and Pitchforks
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5 Forwards New Jersery Devils Should Avoid In Free Agency

By Nick Villano

EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 13: Edmonton Oilers Right Wing Alex Chiasson (39) tries to shovel the puck past New Jersey Devils Goalie Cory Schneider (35) in the first period during the Edmonton Oilers game versus the New Jersey Devils on March 13, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
EDMONTON, AB - MARCH 13: Edmonton Oilers Right Wing Alex Chiasson (39) tries to shovel the puck past New Jersey Devils Goalie Cory Schneider (35) in the first period during the Edmonton Oilers game versus the New Jersey Devils on March 13, 2019 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, AB. (Photo by Curtis Comeau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Thomas Vanek

Feels like we have the Thomas Vanek conversastion every single offseason. He’s still capable of scoring 50 points despite his advanced age. This was once a guy considered a franchise-caliber forward, but those days are long gone, and honestly probably lies even then.

Vanek feels like he could be a good winger to play alongside Jack Hughes to help him through his first year in the league. He doesn’t have the speed he once had, but he can get in position and still has a good shot. He could help Hughes with his positioning and dealing with the speed of the NHL game. It feels like a win-win, right?

These things always sound better on paper. Vanek is not a guy the Devils should consider this offseason. He’s too old on a team trying to get faster. It would be a step in the wrong direction for the Devils, who need to pair Hughes with young, fast scoring talent. Vanek is the opposite of that, and just doesn’t make sense for where this Devils team is.

We saw what he did for the Red Wings this season. He was hurt, but his presence on the team didn’t really change much. He was fine, and the team was bad.

His contract prediction is only one year for just over $2 million. That would be fine if the Devils wanted to take a flyer on a young, skilled player who didn’t work out in his last location. Think Anthony Duclair with the Columbus Blue Jackets this season. However, this isn’t the team to do that for a 35 year old.

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