New Jersey Devils can take advantage of Toronto Maple Leafs because of the mistakes of the previous regime

The New Jersey Devils are looking to make big changes this offseason, but they only have so much space to manuever. Right now, as currently constructed, the Devils have under $12 million in cap space going into next season. With that money, they need to: re-sign Simon Nemec, re-sign Arseny Gritsyuk, likely add a third NHL goalie, add a top-six scorer, re-sign Paul Cotter, and add another bottom six piece. 

That’s a lot to do with $12 million. With Nemec reportedly asking for Luke Hughes money, the Devils would be out of cash pretty quickly into Sunny Mehta’s first offseason. 

That’s why nobody expects this roster to stay the same. The Devils have multiple players who are expected to be trade bait, including Nemec. The Devils have seven defensemen on the roster, and that’s not including Seamus Casey, who might be NHL ready by next training camp. 

We don’t know if fans know this, but there are usually only six spots open for defensemen on a nightly roster. There’s the occassional 11-7 situation, but we don’t think that works long term. We also know Sheldon Keefe has been on record as hating that lineup option. We’re not sure yet if Keefe is going to be the head coach, but it’s been more than a week since Mehta has been introduced, and we have no indication otherwise. 

With the Devils looking ahead, there are a few interesting targets to dump cap space. Some make sense, like the Chicago Blackhawks. Others might surprise the common hockey fan.

We think the Toronto Maple Leafs are a prime target for a contract. Dougie Hamilton has been a rumored target for months, but their status as a cellar dweller made that an impossible trade to make. This offseason, maybe that gets revisited. 

Another option was a trade for Matthew Knies. That would have big money moving in both directions, but with both Tom Fitzgerald and Brad Treliving out of a job, we think that trade is off the table. 

There are some other options, like possibly trading Jacob Markstrom for Anthony Stolarz, taking on term for a lower cap hit, but the reality is that the Maple Leafs will be interested in a pure cap dump.

The New Jersey Devils can move draft picks for salary cap space

And here’s why: the Maple Leafs are desperate for draft picks. The Devils only have five draft picks this year and five draft picks next year because of the mistakes of the Fitzgerald era, but maneuverability will be more important than draft capital this season. The Devils also aren’t trading their first-round pick for a cap dump. So, the Maple Leafs can’t get their ideal situation

The Leafs traded their next two first-round picks to go all in for the 2025 playoffs, and they got knocked out in the second round. That is, unless the Leafs get a pick in the top five. Then, they have to give their 2027 first-round pick to Boston. If that happens, then they also lose their 2028 pick. 

And on top of that, the Maple Leafs have $22 million in cap space with 20/23 spots filled on the roster. They have space to use their space.

The new GM will want draft capital, while the Devils want NHL impact. Would they be willing to trade a second-round pick to get off the Johnny Kovacevic or Markstrom contracts? Those are the two biggest mistakes still hurting the Devils today.

It also puts the Devils in a pickle, as they can only trade so many draft picks, but if they can make a trade of Hamilton and get draft capital in return, and if they can do the same for Dawson Mercer, then there is enough to make trades elsewhere to upgrade the roster without a salary anchor holding them down. 

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