New Jersey Devils: Realistic Metropolitan Division Trade Targets

Last but not least in this four-part series (read Atlantic, Pacific, and Central Divisions here) is the National Hockey League’s Metropolitan Division. Obviously, this is the division of the New Jersey Devils. It is also an incredibly diverse division.

The Metropolitan boasts a mix of old teams on their way out, young teams on the rise, and some underwhelming rebuilders. This intriguing mix allows for the potential of in-house trades amongst division rivals, which we may see coming up this summer. Without further ado, let’s assess which players from the Metropolitan Division can realistically don the red and black this fall. Leading things off for the Metropolitan Division will be the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Jake Guentzel 

A number of Pittsburgh Penguins players might intrigue the Devils, but none more than 28-year-old winger Jake Guentzel. The Penguins recently underwent a change in their front office. Obviously, the vision of the new front-office executives is unknown, but what if the Penguins are willing to take calls on Guentzel?

It would be awfully hard to believe that Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils would be disinterested in a player of Guentzel’s caliber if he becomes available. Guentzel has become a household name across the National Hockey League, and quite the underrated one as well. In seven NHL seasons, Guentzel has tallied 40 goals twice and posted 36 goals for the Penguins last season. Imagine adding 30+ more goals to this Devils lineup… everybody signs up for that.