The New Jersey Devils need defensive help and it could come in free agency.
The New Jersey Devils made a major move close to one year ago to the day when they traded Jeremy Davies, Steve Santini and a pair of 2nd-round picks for P.K. Subban. It looked like a slam dunk less than 24 hours after they drafted Jack Hughes with the first-overall pick. Ray Shero was the talk of the town, and the Devils were looking like a team to be reckoned with.
We all know what the future would hold. Subban was not the top defenseman he once was. The Devils season would fall apart (thanks to a lot of other issues besides Subban), and now the team is once again looking to add to the defensive corps. Just days ago, Tom Fitzgerald said he wants to add something to the back end.
We profiled the five left defensemen we thought the Devils could target this offseason way back in January. You know January. It was like six years ago. Anyway, since we have something on the record for left defensemen, we felt it right to spend a little more time on the right side. Now, the Devils were stacked there earlier this year. Beyond Subban, they also had Damon Severson, Sami Vatanen, and Matt Tennyson to play on that side.
Vatanen is now playing for the Carolina Hurricanes and Tennyson really should stick to the AHL. There’s one spot open on the right side, or the Devils can decide to get a little creative with their defensive unit. Either way, talent is talent and the Devils need talent.
So, we look at the available talent on the right side of the defense. There’s is just more options on the right side than there is on the left, and that could cause the Devils to make it a priority to sign a player here. The future of the Devils defense is in flux for now. The Devils don’t get to have a solid idea of what this defense could look like until after the NHL’s return-to-play format is completed. In the meantime, we will give them some ideas.