NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils Trade Targets

The New Jersey Devils are in a position they have not been in for a long time now as they are buyers come the NHL Trade Deadline. Even with the NHL Rumors ramping up around the Devils, general manager Tom Fitzgerald is still playing it cool regarding his strategy for the trade deadline.

Fitzgerald prefers to make hockey trades in the summer rather than at the deadline. However, he is not afraid to go off the board at the deadline. However, one thing is clear this year; Devils general manager does not want to give away premium assets for a rental. Rather he would like to continue to stockpile controllable assets that fit with the age of the core of the group and what he is building in New Jersey.

But as Fitzgerald noted to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic he would not be doing his job correctly if he was not looking to improve his hockey club. One area Fitzgerald would like to improve in is adding a top-six scoring winger. Again Fitzgerald is not allowed to name any names, but in this edition of NHL Rumors, we are looking at some of the trade targets the Devils have in mind for that position.

Time to Dive into the NHL Devils Rumors.

NHL Rumors: Names Link to the Devils

Controllable Assets

Timo Meier

The most obvious name is Timo Meier. Meier is the number one asset on all the trade bait boards out there. According to San Jose Hockey Now, the Sharks want a similar package to what the Vancouver Canucks got for Bo Horvat. That was a first-round pick, a top prospect, and an NHL-ready player.

So the Devils could be parting with a player like Yegor Sharangovich, and prospects like Alexander Holtz, Nolan Foote, and Reilly Walsh to get the deal done. If Fitzgerald can find a way to not have Holtz involved even better.

Meier checks all the boxes for the Devils. Not to mention his relationship with Nico Hischier and Jonas Seigenthaler. Obviously, the $10 million qualifying offer could throw the Devils and teams for a loop. If this trade does happen they will need a contract extension in place first. And where does Meier fit in the pecking order of salaries as Fitzgerald wants to establish an internal cap with Jack Hughes probably being the highest-paid player on the team?

Brock Boeser

Another player the Devils continuously are linked to is Canucks Brock Boeser. This goes back to the 2022 NHL Draft. The Canucks are in sell mode and Boeser is the next chip to move out of Vancouver. Again Boeser is another scoring winger the Devils can utilize with Hischier or Hughes. Boeser has two more years left on his deal after this season that carries a salary cap hit of $6.650 million. That allows the Devils to fit Jesper Bratt into the salary structure as well.

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Sam Reinhart/Sam Bennett

Outside of Boeser and Meier, other controllable assets include Sam Reinhart and Sam Bennett of the Florida Panthers. Both players fit the age group of this Devils team. Reinhart has 39 points (17 goals and 22 assists) in 52 games. Bennett has 31 points (12 goals and 19 assists) in 51 games. Reinhart has a year plus left on his deal that pays him $6.50 million a season. While Bennett has a little over two years left at $4.425 million a season. Again both are good adds to an up-and-coming team similar to the team they are on now. Again what will the cost be for these players and is Florida willing to move either of them?

Pavel Buchnevich

Another name the Devils could add at the deadline is St. Louis Blues forward Pavel Buchnevich. His name is starting to pick up as a name the Devils could add. Again it all depends on the position the Blues are in at the deadline. Buchnevich is expected back before the deadline from injury. He also has a reasonable cap hit of $5.8 million for the next two seasons. This season through 38 games, he has 38 points. Buchnevich also comes with a little edge, something the Devils are lacking especially in their top six.

Nick Schmaltz