New Jersey Devils: Top 5 Remaining Free Agents

Anthony Duclair

This one might get a little hairy since money is what caused the Ottawa Senators to refuse to give Anthony Duclair even a qualifying offer. The Senators let him walk for free despite a 23-goal season in 68 games. It sounded like he was looking for a substantial raise from what he was making.

That’s what might push the Devils away from this deal. If he’s asking for something like $5 million per season on a longer-term deal, that’s an insane ask. He’s the right kind of player that gets a one-year deal. He needs to prove that something is different about him that made him a 20-goal scorer instead of just a drop in the bucket.

Duclair does add a lot to a roster. He was playing power play and penalty kill for the Senators, even adding two shorthanded goals. He was doing just about everything for a Senators’ team that didn’t have much else on offense. The Devils would ask him to be a complimentary piece, and it might not be the best fit. However, it’s definitely worth exploring if you’re Tom Fitzgerald.

Duclair is talented. That is undeniable. The Devils could always use more talent, and he’s just 25 years old. He is the same age as the newly acquired Andreas Johnsson. He fits into a lot of what the Devils want, but giving him too much money is how teams get cap strapped down the line.