The NHL Free Agent Frenzy is always a spectacle, even for a team that is not linked to the top targets. The New Jersey Devils have become players in the free agent market recently, including signing Dougie Hamilton last offseason. There are a couple of other superstar-UFAs available this offseason, such as Johnny Gaudreau and Evengni Malkin. The Devils have been linked with Gaudreau in recent weeks, but will they be willing to spend over 10 million dollars in cap space to secure his services? Let’s look at alternates to Gaudreau in one of the more underrated wingers of the NHL, Florida winger Mason Marchment.
Marchment is a 26-year-old left winger that is a physical presence. He is listed at 6’4” and 204 lbs. Marchment was not drafted but signed to a two-year deal by the Maple Leafs in 2016. After playing in the AHL for the better part of four years, he made his NHL Debut in 2019-2020 for the Maple Leafs. The following season, he was traded to the Panthers for forward Denis Malgin.
Marchment was not a player highly sought after until this past year when he scored 18 goals and 29 assists. This was all in 54 games, which is a very good point-per-game metric at .870. It’s not just the goals that make Marchment special. He is an extremely good defensive winger, one of the best in the league. He provides the forechecking ability that the Devils do not have at the moment. Marchmant is able to retrieve pucks and provide a constant nuisance on opposition breakout attempts. He lays hits but has the skills to be an offensive threat as well.
Tom Fitzgerald has mentioned in the past he wants to add grit and toughness to the lineup. It is one of the reasons why the team was so high on Juraj Slafkovsky at last week’s Draft. But with Marchement, they could get a great consolation prize.
Mason Marchment took the NHL by storm this season and he will be very coveted FA. Florida wants to keep him of course. But Edmonton is reportedly one of the teams very interested in him.
— Andy & Rono (@ARHockeyStats) July 12, 2022
Marchment could be very good complementary Top6 caliber player with decent skillset. pic.twitter.com/gdufZejaD7
He also would not break the bank. Based on several other deals across the league and general speculation, it seems that his next contract might be in the ballpark of $4 million per season over 4 years. For a player of Marchment’s value, this is a great price point.
However, signing Marchment is not as simple as it is laid out in this article. Other teams in search of size, especially the Edmonton Oilers with the potential loss of Evander Kane, could be interested. This is also a gamble, as Marchment has not hit this level of production before. But with the style and toughness he plays with, he could be a dream addition on Jack Hughes’s or Nico Hischier’s wings. If it does work out, he could be a key piece in the top six.