Assessing Future Of 5 Struggling New Jersey Devils Players

Christian Jaros

Christian Jaros was a part of the summer of size that Tom Fitzgerald put together this offseason. He added some big dudes, and Jaros was one of the biggest. He stands at 6’3, which gives the Devils the depth they needed on the blue line with the right amount of size. They only needed to give the San Jose Sharks Nick Merkley to make it happen, another tweener player only he’s a forward. The Devils have plenty of young forwards to play.

Jaros came in, and he’s been fine at times and not so great at times. There really isn’t much that he does really well. The hope was he’d grow into a new scheme with Alain Nasreddine. He’s ended up getting into 11 games this year, and despite the fact Lindy Ruff is looking for someone to take Smith’s place at the time, Jaros failed to do that. The Devils opted for Colton White instead.

The Devils need to make a decision on Jaros this offseason. He’s a restricted free agent. The Devils can just give him a qualifying offer and call it a day. He might decide to ask to go somewhere else since this clearly wasn’t the best fit.

The future for Jaros is likely not in New Jersey. The Devils gave it the ole college try, but he never really found his footing here. He also got injured, which couldn’t have helped.