New Jersey Devils: 5 Remaining Free Agents Worth A Shot
By Nick Villano
Yegor Rykov
One of the worst moves of the Ray Shero era was the first and only trade between the New Jersey Devils and New York Rangers. The Devils got Michael Grabner to add to the stretch run as the Devils were looking to make the 2018 postseason for the first time since their 2012 Stanley Cup Final run. They paid a decent price of Yegor Rykov and a 2nd-round pick.
Grabner fell apart in New Jersey. He was having trouble fitting into the John Hynes system, and his goal-scoring ability just didn’t translate to the other side of the Hudson River. After coming over with 25 goals, Grabner had 2 in the final 21 games with the Devils. In the five-game series wit the Lightning, Grabner only got into two games and scored zero points.
Rykov was a prospect with high expectations if the Devils could get him to come over from Russia. With the Rangers having many Russian ties, including goalie Igor Shesterkin, Rykov came over to join the Rangers, but it only lasted one season with the Hartford Wolfpack before he spent the COVID-shortened season in the KHL.
Next. 3 Acceptable Vladimir Tarasenko Trades. dark
It’s entirely possible that Rykov wants to spend the rest of his career in Russia, but it would be interesting to see if he’s willing to go to a team that once believed in him. He doesn’t have a spot on the NHL roster with Jonas Siegenthaler, P.K. Subban, and Christian Jaros already good enough to take up the bottom part of the Devils defensive depth, but it would be an interesting pitch. Rykov has skill and could make an NHL jump. This might be one year too soon for this, though.