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.
Philadelphia Flyers: Travis Konecny
Logistically, this could be tough. The Philadelphia Flyers do not often trade with the Devils, nor should they. Why would they want to make a Devils team on the rise any better? Well, the Devils can make them better as well.
The Devils have the pieces to get this deal done. With the Flyers noticeably beginning a full-fledged rebuild by stacking draft picks and prospects and eating other teams’ money, Travis Konecny may be the next Flyer on his way out. At 26 years old, Konecny’s prime will likely be over by the time the Flyers begin to reap the rewards of their rebuild, meaning they can use this as an opportunity to cash in on him.
Konecny had 31 goals (a career high) and 61 points (tied for a career high) last season. He has shown exponential growth in his career and looks like the type of player who can help a Stanley Cup contender. Flyers General Manager Danny Briere has been off to a good start in year one of his tenure, but maybe Tom Fitzgerald can complete part two of his Pennsylvania state heist in back-to-back summers by nabbing Travis Konecny.
Carolina Hurricanes: Stefan Noesen
Reuniting with Stefan Noesen might be an intriguing, yet difficult idea for the Devils. The Devils and the Carolina Hurricanes were neck-and-neck last season for the Metropolitan Division title. Surely the Hurricanes do not want to help the Devils in any way. But what if there is a way to get back the winger that won over Devils fans’ hearts with his enormous 2018 playoff goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning?
Noesen is under contract for one more season at a reasonable cap hit of $762,500, a very cheap number for his contributions. He has grown exponentially as a player since leaving the Devils and could be a very useful player for them at this point in the playoff window. This is a proven playoff performer, and given his role as a versatile bottom-six player, Noesen will immediately make the Devils better. This is the kind of player that the Devils need now that they are on the rise into the Stanley Cup conversation.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Alexandre Texier
Alexandre Texier is said to be coming back to the NHL to play for the Columbus Blue Jackets for the 2023-24 season. The 23-year-old center played last season in Zurich in the Swiss National League to be closer to home. He is under contract for $1.525 million for the upcoming season.
Texier has shown flashes in his brief NHL career of being capable of contributing offensively. With Columbus looking like a black hole for years to come and Texier returning to the NHL this year, it is interesting to think about if the Blue Jackets may take a call on Texier.
He is obviously still a young player and could be a bit of a project for the Devils, but this could be a low-risk, high-reward deal worth making. It is yet to be seen what Texier’s offensive potential is, but the Devils certainly have a forward corps that can help Texier grow into his game and tap into that potential.
New York Rangers: Alexis Lafreniere
This is controversial. Alexis Lafreniere has not had the best start to his NHL career. Does he need a reset? Are the New York Rangers approaching this point yet with the 21-year-old, and would the Rangers trade a player that was so highly touted to their biggest rival?
For the sake of chaos, let’s say this is on the table. If the Rangers were willing to part ways with their 2020 first-overall selection, the Devils would be interested in tapping into some of the potential that Lafreniere is known to possess. The expectations for a top pick are oftentimes impossible to reach early on, and Lafreniere is a prime example of a player drowning in his sky-high expectations.
Through his first 3 NHL seasons, Lafreniere has totaled 47 goals and 91 points, a largely underwhelming number for the former first-overall pick. He has yet to amass a 20-goal or even 40-point season. Lafreniere is still very young and has time to figure out his identity as an NHL player, but that time may be running out in New York City.
New York Islanders: Hudson Fasching
Not a blockbuster, clearly. The New York Islanders have a plethora of players locked up long-term, and General Manager Lou Lamoriello has stated that he wants to “run it back” with this group that lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. With that being said, there aren’t many options for a Devils-Islanders trade, but how about a 27-year-old project with some offensive upside?
Hudson Fasching has the potential to be a late bloomer. Fasching scored 10 goals in just 49 games last season and has only 87 games of NHL experience under his belt. Assuming the cost for a 27-year-old with such little NHL experience is next to nothing, Fasching may be a decent idea for the Devils this summer. If he works out, great. If not, the Devils probably paid next to nothing for him, and it’s easy to move on.
Washington Capitals: Anthony Mantha
The Washington Capitals will be forced to make some tough decisions in the coming years after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 8 seasons. With Alex Ovechkin under contract for three more years, a contract that will take him to the age of 40. The Capitals will likely make a run at the playoffs for three seasons before tearing it down completely, meaning a re-tool is imminent in Washington.
The Capitals are an aging team with minimal salary cap flexibility and may seek financial freedom by trading Anthony Mantha this summer. Mantha could be a solid fit for the Devils on the middle-six forward lines and likely will not come at a steep price after a few down years in terms of offensive output. Mantha scored 24 goals in the 2017-18 season, and 25 goals in the 2018-19 season, but has not reached those totals since.
Next. Atlantic Division Trade Targets. dark
Still 28, Mantha has time to find his offensive game again, and it could be much easier in New Jersey with the plethora of talent the Devils boast up front. As previously mentioned, the price for Mantha will be low, offering the Capitals a bit of salary relief by eating half of Mantha’s salary and throwing in a prospect should be able to get the deal done.