3 Under-the-Radar Defensemen New Jersey Devils Should Target
The New Jersey Devils are reportedly looking hard at the defenseman trade market prior to the December roster freeze. Who are some names they could target that haven't been spoken about?
The New Jersey Devils have reportedly been calling about available defensemen this season. Things haven't been as smooth as fans hoped after the loss of Damon Severson and Ryan Graves in the offseason. Dougie Hamilton's injury makes things even worse. Simon Nemec has done a splendid job, but he's just three games into his NHL career. Luke Hughes might be the Devils best defenseman, but the collective stink of John Marino and Jonas Siegenthaler after their play was one of the main reasons for the Devils defensive dominance last season is hard to watch.
The latest 32 Thoughts podcast from Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek went into detail about the Devils defenseman search. It's clear Tom Fitzgerald is at least seeing what's out there. We know some of the obvious names like Chris Tanev, but the Devils should avoid the wrong defenseman. However, there are some defensemen nobody is really talking about that could be available.
32 Thoughts mentioned Adam Larsson, and a return to New Jersey makes some sense, but his term would make it hard to work. However, there's another Seattle Kraken defenseman who could be an easy target.
Justin Schultz
Seattle Kraken
Justin Schultz was not in the lineup when the Devils and Kraken squared off on Thursday. The Kraken decided to replace him in the lineup for 21-year-old Ryker Evans. Schultz was the odd-man out on an underperforming bottom line. So, why would the Devils want the services of an aging and struggling defenseman?
For one, it's a no-risk move. Schultz is going to be a free agent after the season. He was great last year, putting up 37 points. It was his best season since 2016-17. This season, he has nine points in 26 games. He's struggled defensively, but that's never been his game. He would be a way for the Devils to replace the points that left with Dougie Hamilton.
Schultz would come in as depth who could come in when the Devils need more offense. They can play matchups against teams like the Bruins and Islanders.
Brenden Dillon
Winnipeg Jets
Brenden Dillion is a player we really liked before free agency 2020. He ended up signing a three-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets. He's been good in his first two seasons there. It hasn't been the type of play that grabs headlines, but Dillon isn't that type of player. He gets some points (he had 20+ in each of his full Jets seasons and has seven already this season). He's usually very safe in his own zone but never spectacular. If the Devils are truly going after stabilizing names, Dillon makes sense.
Dillon already has four goals this season, which is more than his previous two seasons. He's jumping into the play and getting to those high-danger areas more often. He has five individual high-danger chances in 25 games. Two more and it's his Winnipeg Jets high. He is having a great offensive season.
Dillon and Neal Pionk are the two best defenders on the team when it comes to high-danger chance percentage. They both take about 53 percent of the high-danger share over the season. Of the regulars in the lineup, only Nino Niederreiter has better HDCF/60 rates. Dillon is making the most of his minutes.
Will the Jets be willing to sell on Dillon? They are in third place in the Central Division. It doesn't make a ton of sense for them to sell. However, many believe the standings will settle out. Even if they don't, maybe the Devils can find a deal that makes sense for both parties.
Jon Merrill
Minnesota Wild
We try really hard not to fall into the trope of bringing back New Jersey natives and ex-Devils, but this one makes sense. The Devils lost Jon Merrill in the 2018 Expansion Draft when he went to the Vegas Golden Knights. He was part of a defensive prospect core that included Steve Santini, Eric Gelinas, Alexander Urbom, and Damon Severson. Many of them didn't work out, but Severson and Merrill did (especially as second-round draft picks).
Merrill does a lot of what the Devils need right now. He blocks shots, which is something the Devils desperately need. They lost a ton of those blocked shots when Graves signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Merrill has 19 shots this season in a limited role. He would get more penalty kill minutes on the Devils (he only has one blocked shots on the PK this season).
This would be a really good fit. Merrill has another year left on his deal at just $1.2 million. He could easily replace Brendan Smith next season. Merrill won't cost a lot to acquire even with the simple contract.
The Minnesota Wild want to claw its way back into contention, but this has started so terribly. They've played much better since hiring John Hynes, but it's still a steep hill to climb. If they can get assets for Merrill, they might just take it.
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