Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

5 Moves New Jersey Devils Can Make To ‘Win Now’

By Charlie Borges Jr.

NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 12: Tom Fitzgerald looks on after being named interim general manager by New Jersey Devils owner Joshua Harris while he addresses the media prior to the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 12, 2020 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - JANUARY 12: Tom Fitzgerald looks on after being named interim general manager by New Jersey Devils owner Joshua Harris while he addresses the media prior to the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on January 12, 2020 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
(Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Steven Kingsman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Re-Sign Sami Vatanen

Sami Vatanen should be on the New Jersey Devils until he retires. Vatanen has finally showed us what he can do when he is on top of his game. He has cooled off as of late however that has seemingly dropped his trade value just a bit. If the Devils cannot get more than a first round pick AND a prospect, they should hold onto Vatanen. He is a top four right-handed defenseman that can provide offense from the blueline and be responsible in his own end. He is a pending UFA that will command a raise from his current salary. Currently 28 years old, getting a six-year contract will seemingly be his only chance to cash in.

The Devils are the right team to have him cash in on. If Vatanen walks, there will always be a dark cloud over his head. He was the guy the Devils got by trading away folk hero and fan favorite Adam Henrique. Vatanen has a lot to prove and it should be a Devils uniform he wears when he proves it. It is no coincidence that the Devils made the playoffs when he first came onto the scene. Yes, Taylor Hall played a huge part in it, but the defense was better off with Vatanen there than when he was in Anaheim.

If the Devils don’t pull the trigger on the aforementioned Pietrangelo or Krug, removing Vatanen from the scenario will leave the team in much more peril than it is already in. If they do not add anything to the blueline, it will be Subban, Severson, Butcher, Mueller, and Carrick as players either under contract or team control for next season. That will note bode well at all next season. With Vatanen you at the very least have a competent four in Subban, Severson, Butcher, and Vatanen. Without Sami, the defense is much weaker and quite frankly, bleaker.

Home/Analysis