New Jersey Devils: 3 Possible Short-Term Trades To Replace Miles Wood
The New Jersey Devils announced on Monday that Miles Wood is out indefinitely after he got hip surgery. The Devils were hoping his injury would not be a long-term issue, but it’s clear that he’s going to miss most if not all of this season. It’s an unfortunate loss for a Devils team that is desperate to find goal scoring, and there really isn’t a lot out there. Maybe Wood’s goals don’t come to mind when Devils fans think of him, but he did lead the team last season with 17. Most people thought he could take it to the next level and score 20 this season.
Now, the Devils have to find a way to replace Wood. There are some interesting options within the system. Tyce Thompson is a name that immediately comes to mind. He’s been scoring at an impressive clip with the Utica Comets. However, the Devils might think they have to look outside the organization to find a replacement for Wood.
The issue with when this is happening is there aren’t a ton of trade candidates out there right now. Teams all think they still have a chance to turn around their season. However, there are teams looking to either gain assets in next year’s NHL Draft or just trying to bring a different feel to their team.
Teams at the top of the standings like the Florida Panthers or the Carolina Hurricanes are not trying to make a deal right now. They don’t want to do anything to mess with the chemistry right now. When they inevitably find a losing streak, maybe that’s when they bring new blood in. However, it’s not happening now.
Where the Devils need to shop is at the bottom of the standings. Those teams are either looking for a desperate move to wake up the locker room or just a move looking ahead to next season. Can any of these players help replace Miles Wood?
Dominik Kubalik – Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks need to blow the entire operation to the moon and start over. This might be the worst year a hockey team has gone through in the last decade. In a matter of a month, the team had the biggest scandal in the sport this year, they lost the coach, president, and GM, they became a disgrace to the sport, their old coach was forced to leave the game, and on top of everything, the team that spent big this offseason on Seth Jones and Marc-Andre Fleury is now 2-9-2.
The Blackhawks are pretty close to too far gone. The Devils are closer to the Carolina Hurricanes than the Blackhawks are to a playoff spot. It’s time to unload assets. One very intriguing asset is Dominik Kubalik.
Kubalik scored 30 goals in his rookie season, but he dropped off pretty precipitously last season. He had 17 goals in 56 games. He played every game for a dreadful Blackhawks team, and still was able to put up significant scoring. That’s actually the same amount of goals scored as Miles Wood had last season.
Kubalik would be the perfect player to add to the New Jersey Devils right now. He can score from a middle-six role, he would fit in really well with McLeod, and it’s a spot the Devils can fill without spending a fortune. Kubalik took some time to get to the NHL, but now that he’s here he looks like a quality player.
Cedric Paquette – Montreal Canadiens
Going from Kubalik, who is an awesome NHL player, to Cedric Paquette, who really needs saving. He has been absolutely terrible for the Montreal Canadiens. He hasn’t been great since he was traded away from the Tampa Bay Lightning, but what could the Canadiens possibly ask for Paquette? Honestly, he might end up on waivers, and the Devils could get him for free.
Let’s say the Devils give up a 6th-round pick for Paquette. Fine, no big deal. It’s worth it to take a shot on a player who’s been pretty good in the past. He’s a quintessential fourth liner.
The Canadiens brought Paquette in to be a fire starter. He can bring physicality to a team that is lacking it. The Devils are keeping Mason Geertsen to bring that physicality. Paquette can do that as well with a 10-goal upside.
Paquette moved around a lot over the last two seasons, but a bad fit is a bad fit. The fast style of the Devils might suit him like it suited Wood. Paquette is on a one-year deal with the Canadiens, so if it doesn’t work out, no harm no foul. The Devils are taking chances on veterans this season, so they should be able to give another one a chance with Wood out.
Nathan Bastian – Seattle Kraken
Alright, admittedly this one is a little weird. Nathan Bastian was taken by the Seattle Kraken in the Expansion Draft, really doing a number on the Devils’ energy line. He’s played all but one of the team’s 12 games for the Kraken so far, but he’s only scored two points. It hasn’t been a great start for anyone on the Kraken, but they are starting to get their feet underneath them.
The Kraken are trying to get more draft picks to build up their prospect ranks, so giving the Devils Bastian back might be worth their time. The Devils could use Bastian’s size and intangibles next to McLeod. They have always been better together. This seems like a trade that’s too good to be true.
The Kraken are hardly out of it when it comes to the Pacific Division, but they are in last place with nine points. They just lost to the Arizona Coyotes, which has to hurt. Maybe the team is looking for a change. Most general managers don’t like to show they are quitting on their picks, but the Kraken made so many picks it’s okay to say the chemistry isn’t working with someone.
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Bastian is obviously not the same player as Miles Wood, but he clearly has a spot on the team’s energy line since he was there last season. Imagine putting Bastian and McLeod with someone like Tyce Thompson? There could be some magic there.