5. Re-Signing Tyler Toffoli
When the Devils lost out on Stamkos and Marchessault, many thought the Devils would go for the next level of top forwards on the market. That didn’t happen. The Devils instead signed former top-six forward Tomas Tatar, hoping he could find what once made him successful in New Jersey.
Another former successful Devils forward who many thought would return is Tyler Toffoli. Despite his speed issues, Toffoli was incredibly successful in his only season in New Jersey. Spending most of his time with Jack Hughes, Toffoli was the team’s top scorer when he was traded. The Devils didn’t get the return they were rumored to get when they made the trade deadline deal, but many thought that’d be okay if Toffoli returned in July.
Well, he didn’t return because of one rebuilding team paying him a fortune to play somewhat of a player coach.
The San Jose Sharks gave Toffoli a four-year deal worth $6 million per season. That’s just way too much for the Devils after they signed Pesce and Dillon. They already have too many big contracts and not enough huge prospects ready to replace said veterans. So, giving Toffoli a massive deal like that is, as they say, a deal breaker.