4 defensemen trades New Jersey Devils can make to replace Kevin Bahl with an upgrade

2, Radko Gudas
Anaheim Ducks

Many New Jersey Devils fans wanted the team to go after Radko Gudas when he was a free agent. It made sense. He brings a certain level of snarl that the Devils were missing on the back end. While they have a point, Gudas went to Anaheim to get a bad. He signed a three-year deal worth $12 million.

Truthfully, it’s not that bad a deal. It’s a deal that makes a lot of sense for the Ducks. Gudas can play a leadership role while also making sure the team plays the right way, even if the lack of talent causes losses overall. Then, the Ducks can trade him for assets.

There’s one huge problem here, though. Former Devils star and current Ducks GM Pat Verbeek is known as a very hard negotiator, and he won’t be giving a discount to his former team. In fact, he might ask for more just because. 

Still, the Devils would be getting Gudas for two years, which is hard to find on the market today. Most players are in the last year of their deal. The Devils would absolutely give Gudas a two-year deal worth $8 million total. He might be just what this team needs from that second line.