New Jersey Devils: Five Last-Minute Free Agents To Consider

The Devils could really use a player like Andreas Athanasiou. He is one of the most interesting players in the NHL when it comes to evaluation. Just two years ago, he was a 30 goal scorer with the Detroit Red Wings. He didn’t have the same level of success in 2019-20 but the Red Wings were literally one of the worst teams in the history of the National Hockey League. They moved him to the Edmonton Oilers at the trade deadline where he was only okay but a new long-term home might really help him.

The biggest strength going for Athanasiou is that he is so fast. He is literally one of the fastest players in the National Hockey League. You have to figure that if the Devils added him, he would thrive in what promises to be a fast system implemented by Lindy Ruff. They are going to be an offensive-minded group (one would think) and Athanasiou might thrive in a system like that.

If he joined the Devils, he might even be considered for a top-six role. Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes could each use a fast goal scorer on their wing at some point. Athanasiou was great playing with Dylan Larkin, so you’d have to figure that the Devils give him a chance like that. They would become a much faster team by simply adding him to their roster so it is something to consider.