New Jersey Devils: Realistic Atlantic Division Trade Targets
Part three of this four-part series discusses some potential trade candidates for the New Jersey Devils from the National Hockey League’s Atlantic Division. The Atlantic Division boasts some of the brightest names and tremendous talent the league offers. Perhaps one or some of these bright, talented players will find their way to New Jersey via trade this summer.
Without further ado, let’s have some fun. Leading things off for the Atlantic Division will be the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Ross Colton
This one has been well documented and goes way back for Ross Colton. A Robbinsville, New Jersey native, Colton grew up a die-hard Devils fan. At an autograph signing in the summer of 2022, Colton spoke to Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media, reminisced on his childhood Devils fandom.
“Down the road, if I could throw on the (Devils) sweater one day, that would be awesome.”
Colton, who is an RFA this summer, could potentially have that dream become a reality if the Devils see a fit with the 26-year-old center. Colton would add a sandpaper element to the Devils lineup and has found an ability to find the back of the net as well, scoring 38 goals over the last two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Who doesn’t love a gritty hometown kid? Ross Colton would be a great addition to this current Devils squad.
Detroit Red Wings: Robby Fabbri
Robby Fabbri has had a tough go of things in his eight-year NHL career, playing in just 330 games throughout that span. Fabbri has had some terrible injury luck, including four knee surgeries, three of which were ACL operations. It is hard for most athletes to tear their ACL and come back to original form.
Fabbri has been a true model of perseverance, making it quite easy to root for continued future success. Still a smooth skater, Fabbri seems to have plenty left in his tank. If he can stay healthy, Fabbri has proven the ability to put the puck in the opposing team’s nets. He simply needs to prove he can play at least close to a full season. Are Fabbri and his $4 million cap hit over the next two seasons a gamble worth taking for the potential offensive output he can offer the Devils?
Boston Bruins: Jake DeBrusk
Summer 2023 will be a big one for the Boston Bruins. Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald can pounce on an opportunity with a Bruins team who will climb an uphill salary cap situation.
Jake DeBrusk is under contract for one more season at $4 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent next summer with a raise in mind. The Bruins have eight unrestricted free agents this summer and a pair of restricted free agents that need new contracts.
In order to clear some space, now and in the future, the Bruins may have to make some tough decisions to make. One may be parting ways with a talented young player. The 26-year-old winger started to realize his offensive capabilities over the past few seasons in Boston, and the Devils should look to poach a player like DeBrust. With 52 goals over the last two seasons, DeBrusk has evident finishing ability.
Now imagine him skating with Jack Hughes. That’s exciting. If the stars align for a Jake DeBrusk trade, he will immediately make the Devils a better hockey team.
Ottawa Senators: Alex DeBrincat
Alex DeBrincat, for the second summer in a row, will be the subject of plenty of trade talk. The 25-year-old winger is a restricted free agent this summer, and it appears as if the Ottawa Senators have seen enough of DeBrincat after just one season. If this is the case, the Senators are selling incredibly low on a player coming off the worst season of his career but capable of so much more.
The Chicago Blackhawks shipped DeBrincat to Ottawa last summer for an impressive haul, including the 7th-overall pick in last year’s NHL Draft. A potential deal for DeBrincat this summer will not see a return as impressive going back to Ottawa. The Devils would be downright silly not to inquire about the young sniper who has already potted 187 NHL goals at the ripe-old age of 25. There is a potential fit for DeBrincat in New Jersey, as the Devils were rumored to be interested in him last summer. Perhaps the second try is the charm.
Montreal Canadiens: Kirby Dach
Let’s set the record straight. Kirby Dach is still only 22 years old, so there’s a chance that the Montreal Canadiens have zero interest in moving him. For this exercise, let’s assume there is a chance for a move considering the current state of the Canadiens.
Dach is intriguing because he has progressed offensively throughout his young four-year NHL career. Following a 38-point season in just 58 games last season, Dach has the potential to be a 50+ point player in a full season with a better team as early as next season.
Dach could also bring a bit of size to the Devils lineup. He is listed at 6’4″ and 212 pounds. That’s a pretty big boy in the NHL. Dach’s potential is still quite unknown, but if the Devils are looking for another young forward and Montreal is willing to move him, then this could be Tom Fitzgerald’s next surprise acquisition.
Buffalo Sabres: Ilya Lyubushkin
A stopgap defenseman is not the most exciting idea, but it’s necessary for the Devils right now. Ilya Lyubushkin is a solid 6’2″ right-handed defenseman, a position of need for the Devils. Simon Nemec should spend another year in the American Hockey League. If he ultimately does, Tom Fitzgerald needs to find himself a stopgap, preferably a player with one year remaining on their deal.
This is where Lyubushkin factors in. If the Buffalo Sabres decide they will not retain him beyond the 2023-24 season, they may look to move him this summer, Fitzgerald should get to the phone if that’s the case. Replacing your longest-tenured player in Damon Severson is not the easiest task, but Lyubushkin would do a fine job taking over the right side of the third pairing on defense.
Toronto Maple Leafs: William Nylander
William Nylander may be looking for a new place to call home when he is set to hit the unrestricted free-agent market in the summer of 2024. With that in mind, perhaps the Toronto Maple Leafs will look to acquire assets in return for their 27-year-old sharpshooter before he escapes for nothing in return.
Nylander’s situation in Toronto has played out quite similarly to the constant controversy between Jesper Bratt and the New Jersey Devils. A seemingly long game of cat and mouse with zero solution. Maybe both players sign new deals with their respective clubs and move along, or perhaps a swap involving these two transpires. Two players with identical offensive output and identical contract disputes… things could get interesting if the Devils struggle with a new contract for Bratt. This situation could lead to a call to new Maple Leafs General Manager Brad Treliving about Nylander this summer.
Florida Panthers: Sam Reinhart
Sam Reinhart has been an excellent player in his eight-year NHL career. Reinhart is currently a key contributor on a Florida Panthers team that is looking to win its first Stanley Cup in their franchise’s history. In 19 playoff games, Reinhart has scored 7 goals and has tallied 11 points, including 3 power-play goals. He is following up on an excellent regular season performance in which he lit the lamp 31 times and tallied 67 points.
Reinhart scored 16 (!!!!!!) power-play goals this year for the Panthers. Reinhart can help this Devils team in so many ways if he becomes available this summer. The 27-year-old center is clearly an excellent power-play presence and has increased his prowess in the faceoff dot, posting a 50.64% this season. Reinhart makes the Devils a deeper squad and provides yet another weapon on offense. With plenty of room to improve his game further and play with some high-quality forwards with the Devils, acquiring Reinhart would be an electric move by Tom Fitzgerald.
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Make sure to check out the Central Division trade targets and the Pacific Division trade targets.