New Jersey Devils: 5 Trade Targets Who Could Turn This Ship Around

*Sigh*

The New Jersey Devils look like the exact same team they were at the end of the 2021-22 season, which ended just over five months ago. The forwards dominate the game’s share of shot attempts and scoring chances, but only score a few of them while the defense continues to blow assignments and the goalies let in low-quality shots from bad locations. With all the resources allocated to perceived issues during the offseason, one would think that most of these issues would have been resolved, but after the first few games of the year, it’s looking more and more like a band-aid fix than a permanent one. But it isn’t too late – yet.

Through their first two games, the Devils have been bullied around the boards, lost a ton of battles in the crease, and haven’t generated any A+ scoring chances – the offensive strategy and chance creation have been predictable for the opposition. The team desperately needs a bigger body with skill, after missing out on (or perhaps not pursuing at all) Andrew Copp and Mason Marchment.

The Devils would have a hard time finding good value for a player like that from any team with aspirations to compete for a Stanley Cup this year. But, despite their struggles, there are still a plethora of options coming from rebuilders and teams that are cap-crunched both this year and going forward.

Editor’s Note: we understand the cap complications for trades of any size, but we’re assuming all deals would come with equal money going both ways or a third team to facilitate the deal.

Lawson Crouse

Arizona Coyotes left wing Lawson Crouse finally enjoyed a breakout season in the desert, six years after being drafted 11th overall in 2015 by the Florida Panthers. Crouse was traded to Arizona without playing a game for the Panthers, and recently parlayed his 300+ games of NHL experience and steady development into a 5-year, $21m ($4.3m AAV) contract extension with the Yotes.

https://twitter.com/NHL/status/1213661842125524994?s=20&t=Iwq2saFWUD2sYpWtcLeuYw

In 2021-22, Crouse’s average ice time jumped up three minutes to 17:26 over 65 games played while playing on both the penalty kill and power-play, shattering his previous career high of 14:18. Crouse also scored 20 goals for the first time in his professional career on a terrible team, and started 58% of his shifts in the defensive zone. In addition, Crouse has laid 100+ hits in each of the last 4 seasons, and has had as many as 288 in a season (2018-19).

However, Crouse is now 25 years old and doesn’t quite fit the timeline of the rebuilding Coyotes squad. If the Devils can dangle the right combination of picks, players or prospects in front of Bill Armstrong and the Coyotes, Crouse can be had.

Pierre-Luc Dubois-Winnipeg Jets (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Pierre-Luc Dubois

Pierre-Luc Dubois was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Winnipeg Jets during the 2020-2021 season after growing increasingly frustrated by the fact that he had to live in Ohio. *ducks*

In his first full season in Winnipeg, ‘PLD’ rediscovered his scoring touch and playmaking ability, scoring a career-high 28 goals and reaching 60 points for the first time since the 2018-19 season.

Having just turned 24 at the end of June and a pending RFA at the end of this season, Dubois could find himself on the trade block yet again. The Quebec native had been rumored to be seeking a return home to Montreal at many points over the last few years. And, before he landed in Winnipeg, the New Jersey Devils were rumored to have done their homework on Dubois.

Although the 6’3″ Dubois is a natural center, he has experience playing left wing and isn’t afraid to make hits and get in people’s faces. Depending on what the Devils’ coaching staff decides to do with players like Dawson Mercer and Erik Haula, Dubois could find himself playing in many different roles, including filling in for the oft-injured Nico Hischier.

As a pending RFA, Dubois could leverage himself out of Winnipeg very easily, meaning a discounted cost for potential suitors, including the New Jersey Devils.

Jakob Chychrun

The New Jersey Devils’ left-handed defensemen have struggled to generate and produce any offense. Ryan Graves and Brendan Smith in particular have really struggled so far this season at both ends of the ice, while Jonas Siegenthaler is strictly the thunder to Dougie Hamilton’s lightning.

Arizona Coyotes defenseman Jakob Chychrun is an elite two-way defender who can contribute a great deal of offense, but that offense really bottomed out in 2021-22 when he had his lowest goals and points totals since 2018-19. Chychrun has also struggled mightily to stay healthy, playing fewer than 60 games in 4 of 6 NHL seasons. He’s also never played more than 70 games in any season.

However, some of that could be Chychrun’s own doing – perhaps not playing through minor injuries or putting forth his best effort for the team. The Boca Raton native has long sought a trade away from Arizona and has been frequently mentioned as a trade option for playoff teams, but no such move has come to fruition yet.

At his best, Chychrun is an elite play-driver and point producer and could do some excellent work with a puck mover like Damon Severson or John Marino.

Like teammate Lawson Crouse, Chychrun is also moving past the Coyotes’ rebuild and will be 25 before the end of the season. At this point in time, considering the state of the Coyotes as a franchise and Chychrun’s perpetuated desire to leave, it shouldn’t take much at all to prise the star defender from the desert.

Sam Bennett

Despite acquiring Erik Haula in an offseason trade with the Boston Bruins, the Devils still have some issues at the center position.

Michael McLeod reprised his role as a top choice penalty killer, faceoff taker and the 4th line center to begin the 2022-23 season, but played just 10 minutes against the Philadelphia Flyers in the season opener. Then, in the home opener against the Detroit Red Wings, McLeod played just 3:59 in total. 2:02 of those minutes came from just four shifts at even strength.

If the Devils are serious about fielding their best roster every night and building a winning team, that team cannot include the one-dimensional and ineffective McLeod.

Meanwhile, in Sunrise, Florida, 2014 4th-overall pick Sam Bennett was one of many Florida Panthers who broke out in a major way under current Devils associate coach Andrew Brunette.

Bennett was widely regarded as a draft bust before potting a career-high 28 goals and 49 points under Brunette, who was the Panthers’ interim head coach in 2021-22. Bennett’s 21-22 average ice time of 16:57 was nearly two minutes higher than his previous career high of 15:09 set in his first full NHL season in Calgary in 2015-16, at the age of 19. Bennett is a key contributor on the power play and has also never made fewer than 100 hits in any full season he’s played in.

Bennett’s current contract is very reasonable, with an AAV of $4.425m. Bringing in the late bloomer shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg, considering Florida’s own issues on the blueline and cap situation. For the Devils, Bennett’s addition means having four centers capable of playing at a high level at both ends of the ice and being able to roll all four lines – a must for any team with aspirations of winning a Stanley Cup.