5 possible New Jersey Devils free agent targets that are still available
It was a wild and crazy first day of NHL Free Agency, with more than 130 contracts given out across the league. Despite more than $1 billion spent, there are still multiple free agents the New Jersey Devils could target.
The New Jersey Devils had a successful first day of NHL Free Agency. They signed Brett Pesce to a six-year deal, Brenden Dillon to a three-year deal, and Stefan Noesen to a three-year deal. However, Devils fans are coming out of this with a strange taste in their mouth. They did not get the huge forward targets they thought were in their hands. Both Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault were reportedly in talks with the Devils, but they decided it would be better to sign with the Nashville Predators.
All day, one top-six possibility after the other signed with new teams. Some were big contracts like Elias Lindholm, Tyler Toffoli, and Chandler Stephenson, but there were others that had fans hoping the Devils would match. The two-year, $3 million AAV deal that Adam Henrique signed really hurt, as a reunion with a fan favorite felt very possible.
Now with so many deals signed across the league, the free agent pool is shallow. However, it's not empty. There are still more than 200 players who are looking for new contracts. The Devils still have a few players with upside they can target.
1. Max Pacioretty
We're admittedly on the fence about this one, but it's worth mentioning. Max Pacioretty made his return last season after two torn Achilles tendons. He was thoroughly average. He finished the season with four goals and 19 assists. In no world is that good enough, even when considering he only played 47 games.
For this to work, the Devils would need to do an actual physical with Pacioretty before signing him. He’d have to work out for the team (admittedly not sure if this is allowed) to see if he’s cooked. Honestly, this might make more sense as a professional tryout. Then the Devils could really take a look at him and evaluate what he could be on this team. The Devils need middle-six scoring help. On paper, Pacioretty fits, but he has to be much closer to his old self than he was post injuries.
2. Tomas Tatar
Just think about how different things would be if players would just accept the offers the Devils made. Tom Fitzgerald made a multi-year offer to Tomas Tatar last offseason before free agency began, but Tatar thought he could earn more on the open market. The market completely rejected him, and he was forced to sign a prove-it deal with the Colorado Avalanche after the Devils traded for Tyler Toffoli (ironically, another player who declined a Devils extension, but his worked out).
Tatar was humbled this season. After putting up 20 goals and 48 points with the Devils in 2022-23, Tatar was only able to put up nine goals and 24 points. It was not a good season, which did get decently better after the Avalanche moved Tatar to the Seattle Kraken. Was the pressure too much? Tatar has been known to play below his previous level in the playoffs. Would this equate to the expectations of playing with the Avalanche?
That is the case against this, as the Devils are going into this season with sky-high expectations. However, they know how to best use Tatar. They can put him in a position to succeed. Even if he can’t quite play in the top six, adding 15 goals on the bottom six would be well worth whatever the contract costs.
3. Daniel Sprong
Daniel Sprong is an offensive-first player who can make the best of his limited time on the ice. Despite playing just 12 minutes per game, Sprong had 43 points. He can score from multiple places, and his instincts are up there with anyone, at least in the offensive zone.
The issue with Sprong is on the other side of the ice. He is absolutely terrible defensively. Some might say he’s a liability, but that’s why he gets limited time. With additions to this team like Stefan Noesen, Paul Cotter, and Kurtis MacDermid, they can afford someone who focuses solely on scoring.
Should Sprong play alongside Jack Hughes on the top line? Obviously not. He’s figured out the role that suits him. He doesn’t need a ton of ice time. That actually works in his favor. A team like the Devils that is trying to get both Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier’s line as much time as possible while also finding a role for a third line with Erik Haula and possibly Ondrej Palat, a player who accepts a role of 12 minutes and still scores is important.
The pickings are slim, but Sprong is among the few players who would excite the fanbase. That’s not to say the Devils should make their moves based on who makes Twitter happy, but it’s always nice to get everyone behind a signing.
4. Vladimir Tarasenko
Vladimir Tarasenko is not nearly as good as his name value would suggest, but as he showed in the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Rangers, he could still showcase great offense in spurts. With the Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers (and some with the Ottawa Senators), Tarasenko had 55 points in the regular season. In the playoffs, he had nine points in 24 games. The latter number isn’t his best, but he scored the series winner in Game 6 of the ECF. He can still score when it matters.
What is Tarasenko looking for in future contracts? The former St. Louis Blues great signed a $5 million contract for one year last offseason. The Devils couldn’t afford that. Maybe the Devils could fill the contract with incentives and kick the can down the road, but the fact is that other teams can make this more worthwhile for Tarasenko.
Still, it all depends on what motivates him at this point in his career. He’s 32 years old, and his skills have diminished from where they once were. Players who can score more than 50 points still do well in free agency, but there’s a reason he’s on this list. He’s asking for something others aren’t willing to give him. They are waiting for his number to drop.
The Devils might be one of those teams. He’s not Stamkos, but he was once one of the premier scorers in the league like him. He won’t get a Stamkos-like deal, but maybe the Devils can entice him with another chance at a championship.
5. Tyler Johnson
This one will give the Devils more flexibility. Tyler Johnson can play anywhere on a forward line and anywhere in the bottom six. Adding Johnson to the roster would give the Devils more options with Curtis Lazar. As the roster sits right now, there’s no choice but to put Lazar as fourth-line center. It’s been clear that Dawson Mercer can’t play center full-time. Paul Cotter only took 76 faceoffs last season, which was his career high.
Johnson was also much better last season, scoring 17 goals for a Chicago Blackhawks team that needed anyone to play like an NHL player. He stepped up when the Blackhawks needed him, and he spent a lot of time on the Hawks' top line with Andreas Athanasiou and Lukas Reichel.
He was making the best of his situation, and that’s why this is a great possible signing for the Devils. They need players on the bottom six who could make their own chances and bring his teammates up with them. They need someone who will accept playing on the fourth line but also could jump up to the third line if it is absolutely necessary. That’s Johnson.
As you can see, the Devils don’t have a ton of options. There’s nothing like Stamkos or Marchessault that can be added to the top six, but there are pieces that would make sense in their lineup.
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