5 Free Agents New Jersey Devils Should Still Consider
The New Jersey Devils have been pretty quiet since free agency started. They traded for Colin Miller to fill their open right defenseman slot left by Damon Severson. Luke Hughes takes the spot opened up after Ryan Graves left for Pittsburgh. Tyler Toffoli is the Devils big outside move of the offseason, adding the scoring winger for Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick.
The Devils don’t have a ton of openings in the lineup. After the Devils sign Kevin Bahl, they will have three open spots on the roster. Theoretically, the Devils could fill those spots with Simon Nemec, Alex Holtz, and Nolan Foote. However, the Devils are a team hoping to push for a championship. They may want another veteran to fill out the roster.
The Devils avoided the first two days of free agency completely. All they did was sign some AHL players. The market was interesting. Some might say the Devils avoided some bad deals, but they also missed out on some interesting ones. They can make moves as the deals progress, finding some deals now that the big money and big years have been given out.
Jonathan Toews
This would be a fun signing if it’s possible. Jonathan Toews was dealing with a lot this season, but he made it back to play his final games with the Chicago Blackhawks. He had 31 points in 53 games, which was much better than he did the previous season. Toews is no longer a star, but he could do well on this Devils team. He still has enough skill to keep up with a great set of wingers.
The Devils have four centers on paper in Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Erik Haula, and Michael McLeod. However, they might want to deploy Hughes with Haula like they did last season. Or, they could try that same strategy with Toews and Hughes. Imagine a line of Hughes-Toews-Timo Meier? Toews needs to show he can keep up, but if he could, it would work well.
Toews won 63 percent of his faceoffs last season. No matter what fell off in terms of offense, his faceoff skill is getting better every year. The Devils prioritize that, and Toews would be a really good complimentary piece on any line.
Tomas Tatar
Ryan Graves chose Pittsburgh. The Devils sent Damon Severson to Columbus. Miles Wood signed a ridiculous contract with Colorado. The only major Devils free agent yet to sign somewhere is Tomas Tatar. The Devils winger had a really good season, posting 48 points over 82 games. He spent most of the season on Nico Hischier’s wing, scoring 20 goals along the way.
However, he was dreadful in the playoffs. Tatar scored one goal (his only point) in 12 playoff games. That one goal should have been John Marino’s, but Tatar was able to clean up on an insane save. Tatar was absolutely invisible for most of the postseason.
Maybe the Devils fell out of love with the veteran winger after his playoff performance. He had similar no-shows with the Canadiens and Golden Knights before they let him go. He did help this team get to third in the NHL. Tatar scored big goals. Can they find a way to get his head right for the postseason? With Toffoli in the lineup, Tatar must take a lesser role to stick around.
Maybe that lesser role will take the pressure off. Either way, would it be the worst thing in the world to bring Tatar back at a much smaller number? If the Devils could give Tatar a one-year deal for around $2 million, it could make sense.
Jaroslav Halak
There are very few goalies on the market that fit exactly what the Devils need. With Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid ready to go, they need someone who understands they could be a third, but that could turn into a backup spot at any point in the season. Jaroslav Halak is 37 years old, so he’s in the twilight of his NHL career. He was the backup for the New York Rangers last season. If he signs with the Devils, he doesn’t have to move his family.
Who knows what Halak’s motivation is right now? Is it to get on a team he could be a Stanley Cup winner with? The Devils fit that criteria, even as a number three. Does he want to stay in the New York area? That also fits the Devils criteria. The Rangers announced they are signing Jonathan Quick, so Halak seems like he’s out.
The Devils could use another goalie. These Connor Hellebuyck rumors aren’t going anywhere. Until he’s traded or the Devils go after another star, he will be tied to them. However, the Devils could settle for something less.
There is no goaltending depth on this roster right now. Mackenzie Blackwood is in San Jose. Nico Daws is recovering from hip surgery. Tyler Brennan is going to be a rookie, and Erik Kallgren was signed to be an AHL player. The Devils could use a veteran to fall back on, and Halak could hang out with the team for around $1 million if that’s what he wants.
Max Comtois
These underrated free agents always sign deals late in free agency. Last season, Evan Rodrigues signed with the Colorado Avalanche as a professional tryout. It seems like this year’s version of that is Max Comtois. He’s still just 24 years old, and he’s coming off some pretty bad years with the Anaheim Ducks. He had just 19 points in 64 games last season.
However, there are some analysts who are firmly behind him as a great bargain signing. He never hit his stride in Southern California. Maybe it was the talent level around him, but Comtois never lived up to his draft position or his ability. Comtois has produced in the QMJHL and the AHL. He has one good NHL season under his belt (16 goals and 17 assists in 2020-21).
Could he find his true potential with the Devils? Comtois isn’t even in his prime yet. He has a few more seasons to figure out his issues before he is expected to be at his best.
The Devils have to ask themselves a very important question. Do they think Comtois could be better than Holtz or Foote? If they sign him now, that’s what they are saying. If they sign him to a PTO, then he has to PROVE that he’s better than those prospects or he won’t make the team. That might be a better option, but the Devils might not have that opportunity if another team comes with a guaranteed contract.
Colin White
This is another player who the Devils could get the best out of, but it might be a risk that hurts the prospects already in the building. Colin White is much different than Comtois. He doesn’t have the excitement of the analysts. That’s because he’s been in the NHL longer and has shown less.
White had 15 points last season. He scored eight goals in 68 games with the Florida Panthers. He signed there after spending the first segment of his career with the Ottawa Senators.
White once had 41 points for the terrible 2018-19 Ottawa Senators. We’re not sure why he was never able to grow on those numbers. The former first-round pick never lived up to the hype. However, he does still have something that got him drafted 21st overall. His speed is still there. This would be a depth signing, but a depth signing that can jump into the lineup at any time.
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It’s been eight years since Colin White scored the game-winning goal for Team USA at the U18 World Championships. White did play with Florida during their run to the Stanley Cup Final, but he only contributed two points. Still, the Devils could use him as an extra center who could jump into the lineup and contribute.