New Jersey Devils: 5 Under the Radar Free Agents To Sign

The New Jersey Devils sound like they could go big-fish hunting when unrestricted free agency starts this week. However, there are more than meets the eye in terms of the top players.

It’s Johnny Gaudreau or nothing for the New Jersey Devils right now. At least, that’s what it feels like the fanbase is considering. However, it seems more and more like the Gaudreau winds are blowing away from New Jersey and closer to Philadelphia and Long Island (among other rumors). With that said, the Devils might have to go after free agents you might not have considered.

There are some interesting options on the market starting on Wednesday. The market will likely be fast and furious. Most of the best free agents are off the market within a few hours. The Devils and Tom Fitzgerald need to move fast. Here are five players who could enhance the Devils lineup.

1. Ondrej Palat

Many thought the Tampa Bay Lightning were so desperate to trade Ryan McDonagh so they could have enough cap space to re-sign Ondrej Palat. Since the trade, it sounds like talks to re-sign the forward have stalled. That means he will be free to sign with whatever team he likes. This could be a good signing for the Devils under the right circumstances.

It’s hard to consider what Palat might want. Is he motivated by financials only? The Devils would love to have a player who is responsible in his own end while also being able to contribute on the power play. He had just 49 points in 77 games, but he was a superstar in the playoffs. He had 21 points in 23 games on his way to the Stanley Cup Final.

The Devils need someone like Palat who brings real playoff experience to the table. There aren’t a ton of veterans on the forward side. Jack Hughes has zero playoff games under his belt. Nico Hischier has five. Jesper Bratt has one. Palat has 138. This would be a fun signing for the right price.

3. Reilly Smith

I have been pining for Reilly Smith for years. The Vegas Golden Knights always have cap trouble, and people keep putting Smith on the rumor mill trade block. He had a $5 million salary that would go a long way in helping the Knights get a team full of superstars. Even right now, there were rumors that the Knights were going to sign Smith to a long-term contract, but that hasn’t come to fruition just yet. So, as we see it, Smith is available.

Smith has not been the high-profile scorer he’s been in years past. He had a few injuries the past two seasons, and that left him with goal totals of 14 and 16 (albeit both seasons had fewer than 60 games). In 2019-20, Smith had 27 goals in 71 games. If he can replicate that kind of production when he’s centered by Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier, the Devils would be more than happy with a 25-goal scorer in the top six.

Smith saw his production fall as he fell further and further down the Knights lineup. He still had a role with the Knights, and that continues to show in the playoffs, but he’d perform better on a team where he can be a scorer. He can’t really do that on the Knights third line. Smith could do that on the Devils second line.

4. Ilya Mikheyev

There’s been rumored interest the Devils have in former Toronto Maple Leafs forward Ilya Mikheyev. The Russian sniper had 21 goals last season, but it fell under the radar with so many storylines surrounding the Leafs. Auston Matthews scored 50, so 21 goals isn’t necessarily going to take the headlines.

The 27 year old did this despite only playing 53 games this season. He finally broke out in North America after coming over three seasons ago. He’s got the scoring prowess the Devils need, and he could blossom into his best self in New Jersey. The Devils could adjust his role based on what he does best.

The risk here is that Mikheyev has one good season in the NHL. He’s never broken 10 goals in the league before this season. We’ve seen this before, and it could go one of two ways. Either a Russian player finally figured out how to adjust to a North American game, or he’s someone who pulled it all together for a contract year, and they fall back to Earth after signing the next deal.

The Devils don’t have many bad contracts. In fact, they have none past this season. So, they can afford to take a risk. This is why they have a chance to sign Johnny Gaudreau in the first place, but they also need to have a backup plan. This is one that comes with a certain level of risk, but he has proven he can be a 20-goal scorer in this league, plus he’s one of the youngest free agents in the crop.

5. Andrew Copp

One thing it seems like the Devils don’t need is a center. They have Hughes and Hischier locked in for the top two spots. They’ve had Michael McLeod in the fourth line spot since Lindy Ruff took over as head coach. For the third line, they have a choice between Jesper Boqvist and Dawson Mercer. They don’t need a center.

However, there are some interesting centers on the market, and it could make the team better overall. Boqvist is still a question mark after a few years of inconsistency, and we learned last season that production doesn’t always translate from year to year. So, expect the Devils to at least consider their options at the position.

Andrew Copp seems like the perfect player to play 3C on a contending team. That was his role for the New York Rangers this past season, but he also found himself playing at times with Artemi Panarin. Copp is someone who can adjust his role for what his team needs. The Rangers used him that way, and the Winnipeg Jets did the same. He’d be a great option for the Devils, even though they don’t need centers.

Copp is a great player who can enhance any lineup. Just like the Devils could have done with Shane Wright, they need to add the best players and figure out position later.