New Jersey Devils: 5 Under-the-Radar Trade Targets

Evgenii Dadonov – Montreal Canadiens

Speaking of buying low, let’s bring in Exhibit A. Evgenii Dadonov went to the Montreal Canadiens this offseason after a hectic trade deadline last year. He was sent to the Anaheim Ducks from the Vegas Golden Knights, but he vetoed the trade because he had a no-trade clause they didn’t know about. After all that, there were some awkward feelings, we’re sure.

This season, he’s been dreadful. He has 13 points in 42 games this season. Honestly, the Canadiens might pay the Devils to take him off their hands. Either way, the Devils would have to pay like a sixth-round pick to get Dadonov. And that’s at most.

He had 20 goals last season. There’s clearly an issue with motivation. It wouldn’t be hard to motivate Dadonov in New Jersey. He showed last season after the non-trade that with the right motivation, he’s still a good player. He had 16 points in 16 games to end the year after the trade to the Ducks fell through. The Devils could give him the push the Canadiens clearly aren’t.

Right now, Dadonov is shooting 6.5% this season. That would be a career low. There’s no way he can stay this bad. This would be a good risk to make to bolster the bottom six. He could even prove himself to be a fill in on the top six.