For the past few seasons, New Jersey Devils fans learned to trust and respect General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. The GM has made some very savvy business moves to build this team up from a bottom feeder to a contender.
The sign and trade of Damon Severson to the Columbus Blue Jackets brought the 80th overall pick to New Jersey. With July 1st coming around the bend, the Devils are already preparing for free agent frenzy. Another asset the Devils could look to move prior to then is Ryan Graves, another defenseman unlikely to return.
Based on the Severson deal, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Tom Fitzgerald land a mid to late pick for Graves after a really good regular season. The New Jersey Devils are already making moves to make cap space for other really key players in the short and long term. Fitzgerald knows guys like Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt looking at big paydays.
The New Jersey Devils are starting contract extension negotiations with Timo Meier.
— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) June 8, 2023
What will Meier's next contract look like, and will the Devils be able to get a deal done? @Jackie_Redmond | @EJHradek_NHL | #NJDevils | #NHLNow pic.twitter.com/xsnGQR2j2p
The current reallocation of cap dollars will be easier invested after those two are re-signed. However, guys like Yegor Sharangovich may have to be the sacrificial lambs made due to certain guys performing well in a key contract season. His playoff performance left much to be desired, and the Devils may look elsewhere at this point.
The Devils currently have $34.282 million in cap space with 12 players under contract. Jesper Boqvist is among those looking for a new deal. A very versatile winger with upside potential offensively and a lack of physical edge, it might be best for the Devils to look for a trade partner for Boqvist. Players such as Graeme Clarke, Alexander Holtz, Nolan Foote, and Tyce Thompson look to compete for open roster spots during training camp. It will be a sign of success if the Devils keep saving money without overspending on players externally when they have so many internal options already.
Speaking of chemistry, it would be really fitting for Stanley Cup-winning forward, and Robbinsville, New Jersey native in Ross Colton to be traded to his hometown New Jersey Devils. His chemistry with Ondrej Palat would help improve the bottom six. This would help the Devils depth, pushing for four good lines that would excel come playoff time. Bringing in players that want to be part of the New Jersey culture is essential to win again and again.
Having guys like Colton, Palat, and Meier around that hypothetical Devils core of playoff forwards would be a huge variable that gets the Devils not only to a second-round matchup but very likely into the Eastern Conference Finals to push for a spot for Lord Stanley’s Cup. When Tom Fitzgerald does get that Stanley Cup for the Devils for the 4th time happens, it would be monumental to look at the way he took over as interim GM making key trades and adding players from various facets of hockey.