What do the New Jersey Devils need this offseason? They need scoring help in the bottom six, whether that's adding someone to the top six that moves everyone down, or putting money into that area and adding more offensive talent. They need to address their backup goalie situation with Jake Allen being a free agent. Luke Hughes needs a new contract, and like 90% of the roster needs to get healthy.
As you can see, nothing on that to-do list involves defensemen. The Devils don't need a defenseman. In fact, adding another defenseman would only make things harder for Tom Fitzgerald as he tries to navigate the puzzle of defense he already has in place. Fitzgerald decided to re-sign Johnny Kovacevic after a great first season in New Jersey, but that gives the Devils four right-handed defensemen who think they should start next season.
With Kovacevic, the Devils have Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Simon Nemec. For most of the season, Nemec was stuck in the minors, but he proved his worth in the playoffs, and he was even the reason they avoided getting swept by the Carolina Hurricanes. On the left side, the Devils have Brenden Dillon, Luke Hughes, and Jonas Siegenthaler.
As you can see, the Devils are already dealing with too many pieces. However, that shouldn't stop them from making the best moves for the team moving forward. The best teams have to be a little ruthless, and they also have to understand when an opportunity presents itself.
That opportunity is right now. There are rumors that both Noah Dobson of the New York Islanders and Bowen Byram of the Buffalo Sabres could be available this offseason. In fact, there are rumors that Byram asked to be traded.
In these cases, we often see players get traded for 50 cents on the dollar. If the Devils think they can get a deal, they have to take it.
If Bowen Byram and Noah Dobson are available, the Devils would be silly not to ask what they would cost.
Both Dobson and Byram have shown flashes of greatness. Dobson has a 70-point season under his belt already, and he's just 25 years old. Byram has a Stanley Cup ring, and he's two years younger. They both bring incredible value to any team they play on.
And here's the kicker: they are in contract discussions. They are both coming off down seasons, and they are negotiating their first long-term deal. The Devils could come in and get either of them for a bargain.
To make this work, the Devils would have to deliver some insane trade gymnastics. The most viable option would be to trade Dougie Hamilton, but does Tom Fitzgerald have what it takes to move the first player who said yes to New Jersey in free agency as one of the top options available? That's asking a lot, but it is what the best GMs in the league do when the situation calls for it.
If the trade price is too high, or if the contracts put the Devils in an uncomfortable risk assessment, they can easily bow out. That's the beauty of the situation; they can just walk away. The best part about negotiating from a position of want instead of perceived need is walking away is your best negotiating tactic. The Devils should always ask and see if they can get all the pieces to fit, but if they don't, Fitzgerald can shrug and go back to studying tape of bottom sixers.