New Jersey Devils: 5 Players Tom Fitzgerald Luckily Avoided

Josh Anderson

Every single time Devils fans see the name Josh Anderson on their social media timeline, it quickly becomes a “this again?” reaction. Montreal Canadiens fans have been calling for pieces like the second-overall pick (and later Simon Nemec himself), Alex Holtz, Dawson Mercer, Jesper Bratt, and a laundry list of other picks and prospects for the power forward. Here’s the thing nobody is telling Canadiens fans, Josh Anderson is an average player on a terrible contract.

Anderson signed a seven-year, $38.5 million deal that doesn’t end until 2027. The Devils don’t need or want that player on their roster, and they especially don’t need that contract on the books.

Anderson has two points this season, both assists. The Canadiens haven’t even been that bad, but the bruiser has been nothing more than a road block this season. If the Devils wanted to pay someone to get in the way, they just would have paid Miles Wood (more on that later).

This never made sense, but fans and analysts alike tried to make it a thing. Fitzgerald is smarter than that. Maybe Fitz asked about Anderson, but the price needed to be next to nothing to take on that contract.