Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Defensemen To Target And Avoid In Free Agency

By David Holliday

NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 08: Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie (7) skates during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Calgary Flames on February 8, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - FEBRUARY 08: Calgary Flames defenseman TJ Brodie (7) skates during the first period of the National Hockey League game between the New Jersey Devils and the Calgary Flames on February 8, 2018, at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
Justin Schultz #4 of the Pittsburgh Penguins (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Players to avoid

Sami Vatanen

Sami Vatanen was a good player for the Devils. Most fans have nothing negative to say about his play while he was in New Jersey. That said, his time as a Devil was over with the trade and it needs to stay that way.

The often injured Vatanen only managed 50 games in the 18-19 season and 47 games this year. As much as the Devils need defensemen, and he does make the team better, the Devils need a guy who can play all season and one day into the playoffs.

At 29 years old, he no longer fits the timeline for the team to win since the Devils are a few years off from being a contender. He will be looking for one last big deal, although he needs a team that’s willing to pay for it. He could have to wait like Jake Gardiner did last offseason thanks to injuries.

Cody Ceci

This one is obvious for most people, but someone will sign him just like the Penguins signed Jack Johnson. Ceci is a liability every time he is on the ice and would actually downgrade the Devils bad defense.

He gets buried in his own end all the time and can’t move the puck cleanly. This would be the worst move the Devils could make.

Justin Schultz

Justin Schultz can put up points, but that is about it. In Edmonton, before being traded, fans made up their own word for the kind of disregard for defending did all too often and bad pinches called “Jultzing”. A word still used to this day on occasion when other players make a play reminiscent of when he was up in the great white north.

While he has improved since then at making smarter decisions, he still is not a good defender which is more what we need than yet another offensive blueliner. Making $5.5 million this last year, he is going to take a pay cut to go somewhere. With three shortened seasons due to injury in a row, playing 63, 29, and 46 games, it should not be the Devils.

He is a good puck mover and can quarterback a powerplay, but the Devils have players who fit that role already and players who need that spot coming up. Butcher needs powerplay time to be effective like he was in his first season and he needs to be protected from top lines. So why would the Devils pay more for what we have? On top of Butcher, P.K. Subban will be on the point of one of our powerplays with guys like Damon Severson and likely Ty Smith battling for a spot this season and going forward.

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