New Jersey Devils: 5 Reasons Patrik Laine Is A Possibility

1. Money

We seem to get here eventually on all of our “Devils Pipe Dreams”. The Devils have a ton of money to spend, and there are a lot of players who want a lot of money this offseason.

Right now, if the salary cap goes up to the expected $83 million, the New Jersey Devils will have $35 million to spend before hitting the cap. The next season, they have $54 million to spend. That means signing Laine to a major contract won’t ruin their cap number.

This season isn’t even the one that matters. It’s obviously the money spent next season. The Devils have to re-sign Taylor Hall and give Nico Hischier an extension. Let’s say that ends up costing them around $17 million total. That still gives the Devils $37 million to spend. Who knows what he’s going to make this offseason.

Our handy dandy Evolving Wild contract predictor says they expect Laine to make $7.2 million for seven years on his next deal. Safe to say any New Jersey Devils fan would sign up for those terms. Even if the Devils signed him to an offer sheet at this price, it would only cost them a 1st, 2nd and 3rd-round pick in 2020.

However, we’d expect the Jets to match that offer. The Jets do have cap space, and it’s very unlikely the pick would be second overall, where they selected Laine. The Devils would have to get closer to $9 million to get the Jets to back off, or at least think really hard. The Devils could afford to give $9 million to Laine, and still afford all their important free agents and bring in a player like Jake Gardiner to help the defense.