3 supposedly unreasonable offseason moves that actually make sense for the New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils fan base may have grown impatient with them this past season, and they had every right to. This team went from 112 points to just 81, but the season should be well in the rearview now with a bright future ahead, thanks to the hiring of Sheldon Keefe. Now, the fun begins: What kind of tough decisions must general manager Tom Fitzgerald make to keep his team afloat for the 2024-25 season?

There are a few transactions you may expect from him, but if they don’t come into fruition, it may not be such a bad thing. They may just need a solid depth forward, but bringing in another one with star-caliber potential isn’t a bad idea when you think of it. 

They may roll with another pair of stopgaps at goaltender, but once again, is that really a bad thing, considering how much better the tandem of Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen made them? What if they go mainly with what they had last season, just with a healthy team? 

Let’s answer those questions by discussing three potential offseason moves that look unreasonable on the surface, but they may actually make sense for the Devils. 

Paying extra to bring in another high-scoring forward

In my updated checklist post, I noted a ‘depth scorer,’ which would make the most sense. But so would pulling off a shocker and bringing in another high-scoring forward. There could be a few players, forwards, on the move around the NHL Draft, and per Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report, the Devils may be one of those teams willing to trade a draft pick to improve their lineup. 

But even if the Devils use their selections to further stock up on prospects, we still shouldn’t rule out a trade in July for them to bring in a high-scoring forward as opposed to a depth piece. Adding scoring depth would be smart, and nobody will complain if Tom Fitzgerald overpaid another team, one that doesn’t look like a contender in 2024-25, to land a borderline star. 

I’m talking about something like a potential trade for Trevor Zegras or an equivalent talent. Players like Zegras may cost more in compensation, but if it means adding another layer to a unit that already has Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, and Jesper Bratt, everyone in the NHL universe will be looking at New Jersey as more than just a potential team to beat in the Metropolitan Division. 

Yeah, it may come at the expense of at least one first-round pick and a high-end prospect or two, but with Sheldon Keefe in town plus a plethora of outstanding forwards, why not go for it all right now? The Devils won’t be the only franchise potentially looking to put themselves in position to go all in, and while 2023-24 didn’t go as planned, it doesn’t mean the team lacks talent to be among the best in the NHL.