The New Jersey Devils are sellers at the trade deadline. That’s not a secret at this point. The question is how far they go and if they are retooling, rebuilding, or doing a full-on teardown (the last one is a bit difficult with all the no-trade clauses, although at this point, some players might beg to have it removed).
The other question is what the Devils will want in their returns. If they trade Dougie Hamilton or the depth defensemen, what do they get back? The best is to land prospects, not young NHLers and not draft selections, even if they are in the first round. With the way the Devils are built, prospects are the ideal return in any deal they make.
Why The Devils Want Young NHLers
Retooling teams, specifically, teams that retool on the fly, want young NHL-caliber players. The Devils are one of those teams. They want players who can help in the immediate future, especially with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier in their prime years.
The Washington Capitals, for example, have a few players who check this box. Take Hendrix Lapierre or Bogdan Trineyev, two young players who can play at the NHL level but have failed to carve out roles on the Capitals. They would be significant pieces for the Devils.
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The problem is that there are few good young NHLers whom the Devils will add. Lapierre and Trineyev are depth skaters. The Devils ideally should acquire at least top-six potential and maybe a top-pair defenseman, or someone who projects as one. They would get that in a young NHLer.
Draft Picks Aren’t Ideal for the Devils
The way the season is going, the Devils might end up with a top-five draft pick, possibly a top-three pick. This is the type of draft where a top-five pick can land them an elite talent who is ready to contribute right away. Pair that with another first-round pick, and the Devils have a new wave for the future.
The problem is that unless the Devils select Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, the first-rounder doesn’t help them, at least not right away. Say they end up outside the top five and take Caleb Malhotra plus a late first-rounder. Both skaters will take time to develop before they join the Devils and become high-impact players.
Prospects, on the other hand, help the Devils sooner. They can be ready by the next season and be good enough as well. The Devils need some high-impact players, and they can get them in the draft, but it would take some time, while prospects will be ready by next season.
The Prospects The Devils Would Want
Ideally, the Devils find a way to add James Hagens, Konsta Helnius, or a player in that tier. Those are the prospects who look like star players but are still developing in college or the American Hockey League (AHL).
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Those players are untouchable, at least that’s what it looks like right now. However, there’s that next tier that the Devils can target. Devon Levi or Sebastian Cossa are great goaltenders in the AHL who the Devils can add with the Buffalo Sabres and Detroit Red Wings looking to make a splash. Both are young goaltenders who can be great in the NHL and building blocks for the future.
Likewise, the Devils can add a few big names who are on their way to the NHL. If they find a way to add prospects who have top-six upside, it sets them up for a great 2026-27 and beyond.