The New Jersey Devils have spent way too long selling at the NHL Trade Deadline. It's a great time to be a Devils fan as the team has been one of the better ones in the NHL. They might not feel like one of the best teams in the league, but the results say they clearly are. It would take a cataclysmic collapse for the Devils to be anything but a buyer at the trade deadline.
However, this year is a little different. Trades are happening across the league. Already, Jacob Trouba, David Jiricek, Mackenzie Blackwood, Alexandar Georgiev, Lars Eller, Timothy Liljegren, and Olli Maata are among the names that have been traded already. There are others that have been heavily rumored, but the moves haven't happened yet.
The Ducks have been a big part of those rumors, as they have been one of the bad teams this season. There are rumors they could finally move John Gibson, but for once, the Devils aren't involved. They are just fine with Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen. However, there are Ducks players that the Devils would be interested in, even if Trevor Zegras doesn't make sense right now due to his injury situation.
1. Frank Vatrano
Frank Vatrano always seemed like a great fit for the Devils, especially now that they are more physical under Sheldon Keefe's leadership. Vatrano feels like he's been in trade rumors all last season and throughout the offseason. Pat Verbeek has been known to hold on tight to his veterans when he isn't given the ultimatum. If there's time on the contract, he will wait until the right deal comes.
Vatrano is now in the final year of his three-year contract, which means Verbeek has the motivation necessary to make a move. What will he cost? It probably will be more than a normal rental, but it could be worth it.
He was amazing in 2023-24, but he hasn't been close to his 37-goal pace that he hit last season. He has seven goals in 27 games, which is a 21-goal pace. That's still something the Devils would be interested in, and they likely appreciate the deflated price compared to last year.