The New Jersey Devils made a notable move last week when they signed Anthony Mantha to a two-year, $9.5 million contract. With this signing, the Devils are hoping that Mantha can provide them with a much-needed answer for their second-line right wing spot.
When looking at the season Mantha just had with the Pittsburgh Penguins, it makes sense that the Devils brought him in. In 81 games last season with Pittsburgh, he set career highs with 33 goals, 31 assists, and 64 points. With numbers like these, he certainly could make an impact on a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
While the Devils made a smart move bringing in Mantha on this short-term deal, it is clear that they should not be done adding to their forward group. They could use more secondary offensive production, so it would not be surprising if they added at least one more forward to their bottom six before the season starts.
One of the Devils' top needs is an upgrade at their third-line center spot. They tried to address it when they signed Barrett Hayton to a one-year, $4.775 million offer sheet, but the Utah Mammoth matched it. It also wouldn't hurt for the Devils to add another scoring winger to solidify their top nine.
Who could the Devils target at this stage in the offseason?
With it now being three weeks into July, there are not a ton of notable unrestricted free agents (UFAs). Although this is the case, there are still players who could be worth targeting for the Devils. There are a few UFA wingers, in particular, who could help the Devils out nicely.
While Vladimir Tarasenko is not the same kind of star he was during his prime, he would still be a nice pickup for New Jersey's top nine if signed. He posted 23 goals and 47 points in 75 games last season with the Minnesota Wild. There is also Michael Bunting, who would give the Devils a gritty forward who can also produce decent offense. The 30-year-old recorded 14 goals and 33 points in 74 games last season split between the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars.
When it comes to the center position, there are not many UFA options left. Because of this, if the Devils want to add another center, the trade market may be their best bet. Two young center trade candidates who would make sense for New Jersey to target are Shane Wright and Connor Zary.
Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see if the Devils end up adding another forward or two before the start of the season as they look to bounce back in 2026-27.
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