The New Jersey Devils seem like they make a lot of sense for St. Louis Blues superstar Vladimir Tarasenko. In fact, Hall of Fame writer Larry Brooks with the New York Post says that the Devils make the most sense for the Russian sniper. It does make sense on paper. The Devils have a ton of cap space, they have a desperate need for a veteran scorer, and they could use a winger to market around and someone to play next to Jack Hughes.
So, why do we hate the idea of adding Tarasenko to the Devils roster? Everything about it should make just about every Devils fan excited. Somehow, it really doesn’t make sense.
The Devils are short on stars, and they shouldn’t be looking to say no to most players willing to play in the Garden State, but this is one of the few moments where something just feels wrong about it.
Personally, I love Vladimir Tarasenko. He’s incredibly fun, he brings people to the television, and when he’s at his best, there is no scorer like him in the NHL. We can’t be too picky when it comes to superstar wingers, but this one is one to say no thank you.
There are many factors why other deals make a lot more sense for the Devils to spend their $35 million in cap space. Let’s go over why Tarasenko makes a lot of sense for some teams but makes no sense for the New Jersey Devils as currently constructed.