The New Jersey Devils are in a position they absolutely did not want to be when it comes to the forward market. There is one superstar option left. At one point, it appeared David Pastrnak, Alex DeBrincat, Filip Forsberg, Matthew Tkachuk, Timo Meier, and Johnny Gaudreau. This weekend we learned the Bruins and Flames are working hard to re-sign Pastrnak and Tkachuk. Forsberg signed an eight-year deal in Nashville. DeBrincat got traded for a package the Devils could have easily been matched. The Sharks seem to be standing pat.
A free-agent market that once seemed fluid now seems to be Johnny Gaudreau or bust. That’s not a good situation for the Devils, who will have to compete with everyone for Gaudreau’s services. The Philadelphia Flyers and Calgary Flames seem to be the Devils’ biggest competition.
Looking out at any possible solutions if they miss out on Johnny G is bleak. Maybe Vladimir Tarasenko could be an option. The Devils were tied to him last offseason, but the Blues are content keeping their high price on him for now. Maybe Patrik Laine is an option if the Columbus Blue Jackets sell on him, but there’s no evidence of that yet. Kyle Connor would be great, but it would cost an insane amount (something like Simon Nemec and Alex Holtz) to pry him away from Winnipeg.
There is a really good secondary market for forwards in free agency this year, but that won’t satisfy the Devils fanbase. Is anyone going to be happy if the Devils come away with Valeri Nichushkin, Andre Burakovsky, or Vincent Trochek? Those are fine players, and they would enhance the team, but it doesn’t make the Devils a playoff contender.
It’s really down to Johnny Gaudreau or bust. That’s not where the Devils thought they’d be at this point, and they can’t be happy with how it all turned out. We suppose there’s an outside shot they’d be able to pry something completely insane out of thin air (Patrick Kane maybe?), but as of right now it seems the Devils are down to one option.