New Jersey Devils: 5 Players To Consider From Edmonton Oilers

Andreas Athanasiou

Andreas Athanasiou was one of the many moves at this year’s NHL Trade Deadline. Ken Holland brought in a player he knew very well, but it didn’t always seem to click. He had just two points in nine regular-season games with the OIlers, then he went scoreless in the four-game loss to the Blackhawks. The Oilers spent two 2nd-round picks and Sam Gagner to make the trade happen.

The Oilers are actually down their 2nd, 3rd (most likely), and 4th-round picks this season. That’s not what you want to give up when the player can barely break a 10-minute average TOI in the playoffs. The Oilers didn’t like what they got from Athanasiou, and they proved it with how they played him.

He’s going to be a restricted free agent this season. It would be a major surprise, and a huge knock early on Ken Holland if he doesn’t give him a qualifying offer. It’s possible he lets him go to free agency, but even if he doesn’t the Devils should inquire. The Devils still have two 2nd-round picks in 2021, meaning the Oilers can recoup at least half of the cost they spend originally. It might be a little bit of an overpay to take a chance on someone but look at it like trading one postseason of Andy Greene for a few years of Athanasiou.

The Devils need to then sign Athanasiou, and he might think he’s getting a raise. He’s not, and the $3 million he’s making this year might be around what he’s worth. He was wildly inconsistent with the Red Wings this season, but that team was a trash heap. In 2018-19, Athanasiou was a 30-goal scorer who had at least four goals in every month except one. This is a 26 year old who can still play next to really good centers. Jack Hughes would bring out the best in Athanasiou.

Darnell Nurse

Alright, let’s get to why we’re here. The Edmonton Oilers have intriguing defensive pieces, and the Devils need intriguing defensive pieces. Darnell Nurse isn’t in perpetual trade rumors after he signed a two-year, $11.2 million extension, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be dealt. This just means he has more value because he has cost certainty.

The Oilers will want a decent return in any Nurse trade, especially since he’s playing extremely well with Ethan Bear. It’s hard to get rid of one half of the team’s top pair (unless Klefblom/Larsson is the top pair?), especially when the team is hoping to be Stanley Cup contenders soon. Still, the Devils have to ask. The Oilers have Oskar Klefblom on the cusp of being a massive hit. Philip Broberg can probably slide into the lineup immediately. Bear broke out into a star on the right side.

Nurse would, again, cost the Devils a lot in assets. The Oilers will want someone who can play exceedingly well right now and probably a 1st-round pick on top of it. The Devils need to figure out if that’s a price they are willing to pay right now. Nurse is a really good defender, but this is probably his ceiling. It’s a nice ceiling and would be really fun to put next to P.K. Subban.

The Devils are desperate for left-sided defensemen, and Nurse plays the position well. With Will Butcher are the most prominent name on the left side, it’s desperation time for newly minted general manager Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils. Does that mean breaking the bank with an old friend?

Adam Larsson

Lol. But let’s take a serious look at this.

Adam Larsson hasn’t been the same player since he started dealing with a back issue, but he looked pretty good this past season. He spent a lot of time with Klefblom, who became one of the team’s best defenders. Larsson did get hurt in the bubble and missed the Oilers’ last two games.

Those injuries are incredibly scary in any trade, but Larsson has four months to get fully healthy. That’s a lot of time to finally rest up after years of grinding. Larsson would also have to pass a physical, so if there’s anything that badly damaged, the trade wouldn’t go through.

Larsson has one year left on his deal at $4.17 million. That’s a decent price to pay for what the Devils would be getting, especially since Larsson already plays on the right side where the Devils are stacked. However, Larsson could replace a player if, say, the Devils decide to trade away Damon Severson. Again, the injury is scary, but Larsson played well even with it.

There’s a lot of rumblings that the Toronto Maple Leafs are looking at a possible trade with the Oilers for a defenseman. They have Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson to dangle, so the Devils would at least have to offer a player of equal value.

The Devils need a shutdown guy, and ironically Larsson could be that player. It would be ironic, but it’s worth a shot with one year left on his deal. If the Oilers are willing to take Miles Wood and a mid-round pick, why not? Don’t give up one of the 1st-round picks for him. It’s not worth it with the injury history.

Riley Sheahan

The New Jersey Devils have seemingly 15 forwards who could play on the bottom six right now, but none of them are the kind of bottom-six players you might want. There are players like John Hayden, who provide some grit but make a million mistakes. Maybe a player with more skill and less mistakes in a similar role would do the Devils well.

Riley Sheahan is a player who will be lucky to hit 25 points in one season in his career. The Devils need players who can score points, but they also need players who will do everything else well. Sheahan was really good at muting chances from the other team this season. Against the Blackhawks, he had a positive CorsiFor%, GF%, and high-danger chance percentage.

During the regular season, that wasn’t the case. He put up some atrocious 5v5 numbers. However, he was a monster for Edmonton on the penalty kill. He had the most forward minutes down a man, and that helped the Oilers have the second-best PK in the league. Sheahan needs to do better at 5v5, but he was stellar when the Oilers needed him. He was able to stifle high-danger chances.

Should this be a priority for the Devils? Absolutely not. However, it would be a nice addition to the bottom line for a basement price. He’s a free agent after this season, so the Devils could provide him with an opportunity. Maybe his super productive days he had with Detroit are over, but he’s still deserving of a spot in the right situation. With a possible Pavel Zacha at center, they could learn from each other. Especially on the kill, these two could do work. Although, if there are still dreams of making Zacha an offensive contributor, this wouldn’t be the best move.

Tyler Ennis

Tyler Ennis is another depth free agent forward that’s worth a look, but he provides a lot more offense than Sheahan. He was playing in the Oilers top six until he broke his leg on August 5th. That’s a tough injury to come back from, but the Devils might be able to offer him a chance to recoup his value. Ennis might decide just to stay in Edmonton, but if they are offering a bottom-dollar price, maybe he looks elsewhere.

Ennis would be a really nice addition to the Devils forward group whenever he returns from injury. Reports say he’s going to be ready for the start of the 2020-21 season, but we have to see it to believe it. Still, the Devils could give zero term and just bring in the veteran to help lead someone like Jack Hughes or even Zacha into the next stage of their career. Even if he shows up a month into the season, it’s a deal worth trying.

Ennis was finally playing better this season after a few rough seasons, and it looks like he finally hit his prime after a quick start in Buffalo. He needs skilled centers to bring out the best in him, and the Devils have that. Ennis could be a 20-goal scorer in the right situation. This is a lot of the Oilers issues, they have a lot of “right situation” players.

This might give the Devils pause. It probably should. Ennis is a huge question mark, but on a one-year deal why not. Bring a veteran winger for a small price and barely any risk. Could be worth it in the end.