While the New Jersey Devils blueline seems set, it's always smart to bring in as much depth as possible. Sign a couple of guys to a one-year deal for close to the minimum salary and have them in the organization in case of an emergency. Especially with the Devils' injury history, having a few NHL-experienced players in the press box is smart. It will keep them from falling apart and playing somewhat competitive hockey until the injured player returns.
One of the guys that the Devils should be interested in is former Buffalo Sabres defenseman Logan Stanley. But why is Stanley a good depth piece?
Logan Stanley can give the Devils much needed depth
Last season, Stanley played some of his best hockey. In 72 games, he had nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points, all of which were career highs. He also delivered 110 hits, blocked 84 shots, and forced 17 takeaways. Sure, his offensive production fell off after a trade with the Sabres, but that was not his main responsibility. He also had great underlying metrics last season. According to Natural Stat Trick, he had a 51.16 CF%, a 51.43 SCF%, and a 46.14 xG%.
The 72 games he appeared in between the Jets and Sabres last season were the most he has ever played in a season. It also marks the first time in his career that he has played in over 60 games in back-to-back seasons. He also averaged 16:42 of ice time a night between the two teams. This shows that he is still able to handle what is needed of a third-pairing defenseman. He is not a free agent because teams are concerned about him declining or not being able to play effective minutes.
Stanley will also add a physical edge to the Devils' lineup. Despite his struggles to live up to his potential, he has always been able to impose his will on the ice. He has not been afraid to use his massive 6' 7, 231-pound frame to lay someone out or send a message. Having this could give the Devils the edge they need. In divisional or high-intensity games, they can put Stanley out there to "protect" other players and keep them from being bullied.
There is also a chance that Stanley could start playing even better with the Devils. He is still only 28 years old and was a first-round pick back in 2016. Now, sure, he is never going to be the player scouts thought he would be. But we have seen plenty of players have a slow start to their career and figure it out later. With how good his underlying metrics were in a big sample size, it's possible that giving him more ice time allows him to find consistency and become a permanent piece of the Devils' blueline.
Stanley is a low-risk, high-reward player that the Devils would be foolish to pass on. It could be the under-the-radar move that helps the Devils succeed.
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