5 NHL Trade Candidates New Jersey Devils Should Be Calling About

The New Jersey Devils offense is in a bad way right now. They were blanked by John Gibson and the Anaheim Ducks earlier in the week, and then they didn’t have the best offensive effort against the Los Angeles Kings. Alex Holtz was added to the roster to try and get things going, but it did not work. The offense found a way to tie it in the third to steal a point, but defensive lapses ended things in overtime.

It’s clear the Devils are in bad shape while Hamilton and Hughes are both out. Hopefully, Hamilton returns sooner rather than later, but we know Hughes is out until at least the middle of December. It might be time for Tom Fitzgerald to make a move. There’s a good chance that one bad month takes a team out of the running in the Metropolitan Division. The Devils have 12 more games in the month of November. They probably have 16 games before they even sniff a Jack Hughes return.

If the Devils only win five or six of those 16 games, it might put them too far down in the standings. They are already tied with the Penguins for last in the Metro. They have scored the least amount of goals in the division. The team was on its way the first two games of the season, but losing Hughes put the forward lines in serious flux. Lindy Ruff hasn’t found a line combination he likes.

Adding some high-quality trade candidates could save this team from embarrassment. Some forwards are still available, and if the Devils are willing to make big moves, they can make these trades.

Matthew Tkachuk – Calgary Flames

The Buffalo Sabres drew Matthew Tkachuk into their war to get rid of Jack Eichel. That war is now over, but the fallout of Matthew Tkachuk’s name being floated in talks, and one report even saying that Tkachuk and more was offered for Eichel is something the Flames now have to deal with. Tkachuk has always been a trade candidate with the Flames because of his contract. It’s been set up to be a problem. He is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and he’s currently making $9 million this season. That means his qualifying offer is going to be $9 million, and he will want his next contract to have a similar AAV.

The Tkachuk contract situation is a stunner. The Flames did this knowing it was going to be a problem this season. Are they willing to get into that stratosphere with Tkachuk? They do have $28 million in cap space next season, and if they decide to let Johnny Gaudreau go, then there really aren’t any other major free agents in Tkachuk’s area of salary.

There’s also the fact that the Flames are right in the thick of the playoff hunt, despite it being a little too early to think like that. Getting Eichel is one thing. What can the Devils offer that would even be close to getting the Flames to budge on Tkachuk? He’s clearly somewhat available. The Devils could make a Godfather offer to push the Flames, but that is what it would take to even have them considering losing Tkachuk.

Vladimir Tarasenko – St. Louis Blues

Until someone trades for Vladimir Tarasenko, the New Jersey Devils will be a trade partner theoretically. The rumors said the Devils did not like his shoulder issues when they looked at the medicals, but he has 11 points in 9 games to start the season. He already has more points than he had all of 2019-20, and now he’s on pace to beat last year’s point total by next weekend. He’s playing like the old Vladimir Tarasenko.

The Devils just make too much sense to pair with Tarasenko. He’s got two years left on his deal, and he will have a spot on the top six for the rest of his time on his current contract. He would be able to put up points next to Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.

What is he worth now? Is he closer to what the Blues were asking for, or are the Blues more willing to deal him if other suitors still don’t show themselves now?

It seems more likely that the Devils are willing to pay a bigger price now that there’s more of a proof of concept that the shoulder isn’t an issue. Sure, the issue can pop up again, and that risk will mute some of Tarasenko’s value, but will the Blues accept two high-upside prospects and a pick?

Jonathan Drouin- Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens are a mess this season. They are expected to get Carey Price back this week, but what is that really going to do for a 3-10-0 team that’s already eight points out of a possible playoff spot? There’s no end in sight for the turmoil that is Canadiens hockey, and it sounds like the best step forward is to make a move or several moves to look towards the future. Cole Caufield was demoted to Laval, showing how they are focusing on the future for their young players. Maybe the best route forward with another young forward is letting him play elsewhere.

The Jonathan Drouin saga had a rough start. He was traded for Mikhail Sergachev, who became a very useful defenseman for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Drouin came into the league with more expectations, but he’s failed to reach them thus far. He’s had to get help during the playoffs last season, so hopefully, any mental health issues are behind him.

The Devils need skill. Drouin would be a long-term play, unlike the instant impact that Tkachuk and Tarasenko bring. Still, it would bring new life into the Devils lineup, and he’s likely available for a reasonable price. What would it take to get Drouin? It can’t be much more than a middle-round pick and a decent but not great prospect, right?

4. Filip Forsberg – Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators are another team that likely isn’t looking to sell the farm, but there has been no indication they want to re-sign Filip Forsberg. Is there a player still on the team that John Hynes might want back for his current team? It might be a mutually beneficial situation.

There aren’t a lot of players left from the John Hynes era, but who knows. Maybe there was a prospect he was really excited about. Either way, the real value here is the Predators are already seeing Filip Forsberg dealing with an injury in his contract year. So yeah, Forsberg is not going to help the Devils now, but maybe the Devils can put together a force for when Hughes, Wood, and Hamilton get back.

Forsberg is only out a few weeks at most barring any setbacks. He’s still an offensive force that would give the Devils the scoring they desperately need on the wing. Even when Hughes returns, the Devils have no idea who his wingers will be. Yegor Sharangovich has been bad this season, and Janne Kuokkanen has felt invisible. Forsberg would give Hughes an automatic linemate, so the Devils would just have to figure out his other wing.