New Jersey Devils: 5 Left-Handed Defenseman To Target This Offseason

Niklas Hjalmarsson

Niklas Hjalmarsson is not a name you’ve heard a lot of this season. He got hurt in the fourth game of the season when he blocked a shot that cracked his fibula. It sounds like a bad idea to trade for a player that literally cracked one of the main bones in his leg, but we’ve seen in seasons prior that bones tend to heal better than tendons or ligaments.

We think the Coyotes would be willing to trade their big, tough defenseman. They proved this season that they are able to win without him. They currently have Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jakob Chychrun on the left side. This is now a strength for them.

The Devils and Coyotes obviously have traded in the past. Yotes GM John Chayka sent three prospects and two picks to the Devils to get superstar Taylor Hall. If this works out for Arizona, maybe the Coyotes would be willing to make another trade to help the Devils out.

Hjalmarsson could be a huge value play for the Devils. He’s a guy who’s proven in the past he could play that lockdown role with a superior offensive defenseman to his right. Pairing him with Subban would give the Devils a much older top line, as Hjalmarsson is 32 years old, but it would give the Devils that top pairing they’ve been missing for years.

Also, his $5 million cap hit would be very easy to fit in the cap. On top of that, he’s only owed $4 million next season. The Devils could help the Coyotes clear some space to re-sign Hall, while also fixing their biggest flaw.