New Jersey Devils: Top 5 Remaining Free Agents

Andreas Athanasiou

The other player on the free agency fits list, Andreas Athanasiou is an interesting player to take a chance on. Just last year, he was worth two 2nd-round picks from the Edmonton Oilers. Put him with two great centers, and he can build his value after a disastrous stint with the Oilers. He needs to have his value rebuilt, and the Devils can offer him a really good spot.

Even if Athanasiou ends up on the Devils fourth line, then he’d likely play on a line with Michael McLeod and Miles Wood. There are a lot of issues with Wood’s and McLeod’s games right now, but they bring a ridiculous amount of speed. Add someone as fast as Athanasiou, and it could be the fastest line in the league.

Obviously, speed isn’t everything in the NHL. If that was the case, Wood would be a top-five player. However, putting together three players with that kind of talent will allow Lindy Ruff to play strategy with his fourth line. While other fourth lines can only really stop the other team from scoring, this one could be a matchup nightmare.

Athanasiou is still just 26 years old, so there is plenty of time for him to figure things out. Only two seasons ago he was a 30-goal scorer. We’ve seen fluke 30-goal seasons in the past (remember that weird year Adam Henrique randomly did it), but for a player that young to already have that accomplishment, it can be repeated. The Devils should check and see if he’d like to repeat it in the Garden State.