3 Under-the-Radar Defensemen New Jersey Devils Should Target
By Nick Villano
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.