
Nino Niederreiter – Carolina Hurricanes
Nino Niederreiter has seemed like a player the Devils would love for a long time. He is responsible in all zones, he provides the sneaky kind of offense the Devils desperately need, and he seems like the ultimate team player. Niederreiter is going to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the postseason, but the Carolina Hurricanes hope it can be a long run before it’s all over.
Niederreiter had 44 points in 75 games this season. His role isn’t exactly scoring points, but he does so much more than helps a team win. Those skills get exemplified in the playoffs, so this should be Niederreiter’s time to shine.
He needs to stand out in the Carolina Hurricanes lineup. He’s on a third line with Jordan Staal and Jesper Fast. He’s somehow only 29 years old despite playing 11 seasons in the NHL. Niederreiter feels like he’s been around forever. That experience will really help on a third line for the Devils that will need constant motivation.
He’s one the Devils need to pay close attention to this offseason. If he’s able to push the Hurricanes to wins in the first few rounds, it shows he might be the right player to transition the Devils out of this rebuild and get ready for competitive hockey. If he can do that while still scoring 20 goals per season, then he might be the perfect forward addition to the Devils. He shouldn’t cost that much to bring in, either.