New Jersey Devils: 5 Bold Offseason Predictions
The New Jersey Devils beat all the expectations in the 2022-23 season. Now, they are looking to build a true contender in the 2023 offseason.
This offseason is one of the biggest in a long time for the New Jersey Devils. It’s probably the biggest since 2012, when the team was coming off a Stanley Cup Final appearance and had to negotiate against the rest of the league for Zach Parise. What many didn’t realize is the Devils actually had decisions to make on not only Parise, but on Martin Brodeur, Bryce Salvador, and the entire fourth line.
That’s right, not only did the team’s superstar wait until the offseason to make his decision, but the team’s superstar goaltender and every member of the famous fourth line (Stephen Gionta, Ryan Carter, and Steve Bernier) went into the offseason without a contract.
This offseason isn’t that serious because most decisions are for restricted free agents, but the Devils still have a ton left to do. After committing to Lindy Ruff, the Devils now have to focus on the players. However, it’s more than just signings. There’s a lot that will happen this offseason. Let’s get bold and predict what we think will happen.
Bold Prediction #1: Andrew Brunette Returns
This might seem almost impossible right now, but Andrew Brunette still has a good chance to return to the New Jersey Devils. He’s in the mix for just about every open job. We’ve heard his name for the Rangers, Flames, Blue Jackets, and Ducks head coaching vacancies. However, is there a job where he’s the top candidate? It seems like he’s in a lot of conversations, but that doesn’t mean he will end up with a job.
Brunette might see something in the Devils. None of the teams with vacancies short of the Rangers will give him as good a chance to win a Stanley Cup. Lindy Ruff is re-signing, but for how long? If it’s two years, Brunette can take over after and try to win a Stanley Cup with a core of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec. It might make the most sense for him, especially if he can negotiate a raise to be the associate head coach.
Bold Prediction #2: Neither Jesper Bratt nor Timo Meier Signs for Eight Years
This one might not be bold, but it really feels bold. Both Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier are looking for insane paydays this offseason. Timo Meier has a $10 million qualifying offer. Jesper Bratt has already had two very rough negotiations with Tom Fitzgerald. Devils fans are preparing for a long summer, but they believe it’s with a plan to sign both players to as many years as possible. The one advantage the Devils have, outside of owning the rights for both players, is they can sign them to eight years instead of seven for normal free agents.
Yet, neither Bratt nor Meier will sign for the maximum amount of years. They both have very different reasons to keep the contract shorter than the max.
Let’s start with Meier. That qualifying offer gives him a huge advantage in negotiations. Good on his agent getting the San Jose Sharks to sign that awful contract (great for him, bad for the team). So, why would a player coming off a 40-goal season sign for eight years at less than $10 million when he’s just 26 years old? Six years seems like the most likely option at around $8.5 million or maybe a little more.
Fitzgerald and Bratt are going to hate doing this again. They’ve done this rigamarole twice now, and it’s going to be three times this summer. Bratt wants to cash in on his huge regular season, but Fitzgerald will obviously point to his less-than-stellar postseason. There’s no way this ends in an eight-year deal where everyone is happy. This feels like a five-year deal all the way.
Bold Prediction #3: Zero Goalie Moves
The Devils have been tied directly to Connor Hellebuyck. It all started with a simple proclamation from the Vezina-winning goalie saying he didn’t want to be part of a rebuild. The Devils could be a possible destination. They are right in the middle of their window, and Hellebuyck could push them over the top.
Still, the price to get into the Hellebuyck market is very much not worth it for the Devils. The Winnipeg Jets are either going to try one more time with their star in net, or they are going to ask for a very large package to start their rebuild. The Devils just spent a king’s ransom to get Timo Meier. They could probably afford to do another prospect package for Hellebuyck, but the Devils can’t give up a first-round pick until 2025.
The Jets will demand a first rounder in this deal. They won’t want to wait two more years until they see the rewards from the trade. That probably takes the Devils out of this trade scenario unless they give up something massive. With Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes off the table, and Bratt not really making sense for the Jets, this is not happening.
Beyond that, the Devils are in good shape with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid. If the Devils tried to go into the postseason with Vanecek and Mackenzie Blackwood, then this conversation would be different. The Devils found a goalie with ice in his veins. Schmid has a shutout in a Game 7 under his belt. The Devils are fine in net.
Bold Prediction #4: Kevin Bahl Gets More Money Than Mike McLeod
When we talk about restricted free agents, Bratt and Meier are brought up constantly. They are the two stars looking for new contracts. They aren’t the only players looking to find their next deal. Eight restricted free agents are playing for the Devils right now, and there are five more in the AHL. This is a busy offseason for the Devils front office.
There are a few interesting cases. What will Nathan Bastian make? How can they value Yegor Sharangovich?
Yet, the two that will probably surprise the most people are Michael McLeod and Kevin Bahl. McLeod had an insane postseason. He had six points in 12 games while playing the type of style that moves mountains in the playoffs. One goal was shorthanded, which had the Devils fanbase losing its collective minds.
Kevin Bahl played well for most of the season. He was in and out of the lineup, but by the end of it, he solidified his spot. Bahl has the chance to be a really good defenseman. Fitzgerald has tried to sign players early. Yet, a player like McLeod can be replaceable. So, Bahl will have a bigger contract at the end of the offseason.
Bold Prediction #5: Devils Make A 1st-Round Pick
Admittedly, this one is least likely, but why would Tom Fitzgerald even bring up the fact he could make a first-round pick this year? There has to be fire to go along with this smoke. Actually, it’s not even smoke. The general manager actually admitted it.
There are a few ways this could actually happen. This could involve a Meier or Bratt trade. Hopefully, that’s not what happens because that would make the current team much worse. The Devils are in their compete window. Those windows can close quickly.
Maybe Fitzgerald thinks he could find a way to trade up in the draft. That seems pretty unlikely since the Devils second-round pick is 58th overall. They also don’t have a third-round pick, so they don’t have the equity to move into the first round.
Predicting Where Every UFA Lands. dark. Next
There could be some surprises here. The Devils have a large swath of great prospects. Maybe they move on from Alexander Holtz, thinking he doesn’t fit in with this team’s core. Maybe they move a player like Bahl along with that second-round pick. There are options there. This might seem unlikely, but the Devils have pulled the rabbit out of the hat before. Let’s watch as Fitzgerald does it again.