New Jersey Devils: 5 Winger Trade Options Not Named Vladimir Tarasenko

Filip Forsberg

This one has been mentioned a lot. The Nashville Predators were reportedly looking for a massive package to get Filip Forsberg. After making multiple trades this offseason, including moving Ryan Ellis and Viktor Arvidsson, the Predators might not want to move another piece in Forsberg, but for the right price, it could make a lot of sense.

Forsberg is going to be 27 years old when the season starts, and he falls into the older end of the Devils target forward, but it’s clear that this age range is fine after the Devils made moves for Dougie Hamilton and Ryan Graves. The Devils kept things young for a long time so they could afford to make moves like the one for Forsberg.

The Devils were able to fix the defense without spending an asset like their 1st-round pick, Holtz, Mercer, or any of their defensive prospect depth. The Predators are looking to get younger and to build through the draft.

Forsberg is going to be an unrestricted free agent after this offseason, so if the Devils are spending big assets to get Forsberg they need to sign him to a long-term deal. They can’t give up a 1st-round pick in a massive draft like this one if he’s going to just walk away for nothing. Maybe the Devils put some protection on the pick, but then if they fall in the top ten it would move the pick to 2023 which might be an even more talented draft class.

Forsberg would be a player that can transform this forward group immediately. If the Devils could add him for the next half a decade, then he could watch as the young players grow around him. Forsberg has struggled to stay healthy the past four years, although he’s avoided major injuries. Maybe that could truncate his value and the Devils could get away with a prospect-heavy deal.