Alexander Kerfoot
Utah Hockey Club
Ah, another former Devils player makes this list, but Alexander Kerfoot actually isn’t a former Devils player, is he? He never played in a Devils game. He spurned the Devils, making it a point to spend the full four years playing for Harvard so he could walk to free agency. Many thought he was going to be an impactful player in the NHL when he signed with the Colorado Avalanche. Many Devils fans were upset with him at the time, as he was a Devils’ draft pick, but most are over it at this point.
Would Kerfoot upgrade the Devils’ bottom six? Maybe by a little, but it’s not enough to even warrant a trade. He has 16 points in 55 games for the Utah Hockey Club. Kerfoot would likely be there to upgrade from Tomas Tatar, who is starting to look like a much better option.
Kerfoot is decently fast, which does help the Devils add a little more of what they lost in the offseason, but his shot is weak. It’s one thing to get into dangerous areas or keep up with Jack Hughes on a 2-on-1, but he has severe trouble with his finishing ability. Does that sound familiar? Too many Devils are already dealing with that. Not having one shot over 80 miles per hour is below most players in this league.
It would be ironic to bring Kerfoot back eight years after he denied the Devils, but the Devils shouldn’t be working for irony right now. They need to get the best options on the market. Kerfoot just isn’t the right fit on the bottom six.