New Jersey Devils: 5 Most Important Pieces During Trade Deadline
By Nick Villano
5. Kevin Bahl
The Devils have tried a few different players in the sixth defensive spot. Brendan Smith played most of the season, but Kevin Bahl and Nikita Okhotyuk got their share of time in the lineup. Both struggled with consistency and failed to stay in the lineup as a result.
Bahl is the one who has disappointed the most. Most thought he was going to jump into the starting lineup, pushing Smith into the seventh defenseman role. It never worked out that way. Bahl has trouble with positioning and breakouts.
Despite his struggles, Bahl would still be highly desired on the open trade market. He’s a unicorn when it comes to size and ability. He stands 6’6 and 230 lbs. At all times, he’s a presence on the ice. The Devils made it a point to get him in the Taylor Hall trade. Now, he’s not even a top three defensive prospect in the Devils system.
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Bahl is still just 22 years old. Defensemen take longer to develop, and Bahl could still become a star. The Devils are looking to make the best moves, and Bahl could make that happen. He won’t be the centerpiece of a trade, but he might be the piece that pushes the Devils over the top beyond some of the competition.