New Jersey Devils: 3 Teams To Target In Damon Severson Trade
The New Jersey Devils were once one of the best teams in the NHL. It was great when the team was amidst a 13-game winning streak. Now, the team is in the middle of a five-game losing streak. It’s brought the expectations down to Earth, and the thoughts of being one of the best teams in the league are out the window. By record, they are still the top team in the Metropolitan Division. However, things seem to be unraveling a bit.
There have already been some “panic” moves to try and right the ship. Head coach Lindy Ruff added Alexander Holtz to the everyday lineup after previously deciding he wasn’t fast enough. He’s changed the lines more times than we can count. The latest stunt was when he benched Damon Severson so he could play Kevin Bahl on his off hand. Severson made a serious mistake that led to a loss to the Philadelphia Flyers. Bahl and Brendan Smith were not good together, and Severson has been really good with Smith this season.
Benching Severson likely has some teams calling about his availability. They probably want a deal, but there’s a chance the Devils can find a deal that makes sense. They need help scoring, and many teams need right-handed defensemen. Who might be a good fit for a trade?
St. Louis Blues
There are so many reasons why the Devils and St. Louis Blues make sense as trade partners. If the Blues want to be one-time sellers and get back to competing next season, they have some intriguing pieces on expiring contracts. We talked about Ryan O’Reilly. We’ve also talked about Vladimir Tarasenko. However, the Blues may not be ready to sell just yet.
So then, wouldn’t a one-for-one trade involving Severson make sense? The Blues’ defense has been dreadful this season. They need to overhaul the unit, and bringing in Severson would make sense. He is a rental, but he can once again prove himself in a top role like he did with the Devils for years. Maybe at the end of the season, the Blues could decide to re-sign Severson.
The Devils could do the same with O’Reilly or Tarasenko. Would any Devils fan be mad if they turned Severson into a star forward? This trade makes sense for the Devils. If the Blues aren’t willing to completely give up on the season, this would be the right trade.
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars were just in New Jersey to play the Devils, and they took care of business. They are at the top of the Central Division, and they are riding high with great play coming from all angles. They are doing this with Nils Lundqvist, Colin Miller, and Jan Hakanpaa on the right side. With Miro Heiskanen, Esa Lindell, and Ryan Suter on the left, the team is stacked. They need better options to partner with them.
The Stars would absolutely be interested in this type of trade. Now, why would the Devils make sense here? The return has to make sense for both sides when it’s a trade between contenders. Would Dallas be willing to move someone like Mason Marchmant, who they just signed this summer? The Devils would probably ask the Stars to add Hakanpaa, who provides a level of toughness the team has been missing.
The trade seems difficult to make because both teams really like what they have going on. Maybe there are some younger players the Devils would be willing to claim in a Severson trade. We’d love to have Logan Stankoven, but we don’t think the Stars are moving him for Severson. Maybe the Devils could even add an old friend in Marian Studenic in a deal (although that’s not a dealbreaker).
Seattle Kraken
This one has perked our interest. The Seattle Kraken made a surprise run to a playoff spot in the Pacific Division. They have been scoring from all lines, their rookies have been some of the best in the league, and their goaltending finally bounced back after a dreadful season. The Kraken finally look like the original Vegas Golden Knights we thought came last season.
Like the Golden Knights, it’s time for the Kraken to build on what they have already. Severson is the type of move that makes them better now and in the future if they decide to re-sign him. This works really well for the Devils, as well.
The Kraken have a ton of NHL players that are playing well. They also have the kind of talent the Devils need to get better. The Devils have been missing some grit since the injuries to Nathan Bastian and Ondrej Palat. Both are still weeks away. So, making a move for Yanni Gourde makes a ton of sense. He can play center on the third line, a line the Devils desperately need to get better.
Next. It's Officially Panic Time...To A Point. dark
The Devils will likely trade Severson this season. It’s sad because he’s been through a lot with this franchise. He likely wants to see it through, but after he was benched, who knows where his feelings lie. For now, we need to make the most of this asset.