Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils: Case For And Against Trading Each Defenseman

By Nick Villano

OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) and New Jersey Devils Defenceman P.K. Subban (76) fight during the second period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils on January 27, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
OTTAWA, ON - JANUARY 27: Ottawa Senators Left Wing Brady Tkachuk (7) and New Jersey Devils Defenceman P.K. Subban (76) fight during the second period of the NHL game between the Ottawa Senators and the New Jersey Devils on January 27, 2020 at the Canadian Tire Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 6
Next
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

The New Jersey Devils have a bad defense, nobody can argue against that. However, which defenseman should they keep past this season?

Defense has been an issue for the New Jersey Devils since their run of playoff runs ended back in 2013. Even when they went to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012, that team wasn’t winning because of the blue line. They actually just had an insane strategy in the defensive zone.

It’s been a major problem, but it hasn’t been for a lack of effort. Over the past seven drafts, the Devils have used six picks in the top three rounds on defensemen. That brought them Steve Santini, Josh Jacobs, Reilly Walsh, Ty Smith, Nikita Okhotyuk and Daniil Misyul. Of course, some of those players are too young to judge, but Steve Santini and Josh Jacobs just never really showed NHL chops, and one of them is gone in the P.K. Subban trade.

Walsh and Smith could be on the team as soon as next season, so that would help, but they need time to develop. They might be ready to play in the NHL next year, but it’s definitely not something the Devils should rely upon (at least not for Walsh).

Now, the Devils have decisions to make. It’s clear that adding Subban was not the final piece it seems they made it out to be. He sure helps, but only in the right situation. This current situation is not that.

It would be silly for the Devils to keep all their defensemen, but it would be just dumb to trade multiple players we expect to see on the team next season. We go player by player to see the pros and cons of keeping or trading each player on the Devils blue line.

Home/Editorials