Équipe: 2022-23 Devils du New Jersey

Date de création initiale: 18 févr. 2022

Publié: 20 févr. 2022

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Hughes brothers reunite! The devils should be in a win now situation (or at least a try-to-win-now situation lol). But for real, they have a lot of great pieces and need to start building a team that can compete and push for the playoffs. That starts with added scoring and skill for the top 6, improving the bottom four of defense, and getting a competent backup who won’t retire or injure themselves in their first year with the devils.

1. Re-sign your top RFA’s. Bratt has shown he’s clearly worthy of the top 6 and deserves a good chunk of money. 6x6 is a great contract for himself and the team. Very fair. Next RFA is Miles Wood. He’s been injured all of 2021-2022 but is still a great piece of leadership on the team and brings a lot of intensity. I think he’ll do great on the 4th line with the super buddies. Other than that, sign the other RFA’s to bridge deals to use as depth pieces and for Utica who have been surprisingly amazing this year.

2. Make some trades. The devils have so many assets with great prospects and picks, but it’s time to shed some of it and get high value players that’ll help you win now. First is trading for Brock Boeser. He’s been linked with the devils and for some reason Vancouver doesn’t like him. Trading Zacha is necessary for this, and it helps that Vancouver wants him. Adding Boqvist and this year’s 2nd round pick should be enough, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they pull the trigger seeing as how Vancouver’s trades recently have been shaky. Boeser is then signed to a nice 5-6 year deal with around 7 mil, which he should be happy to take. Next is a big one, and probably a little unrealistic, but hey, anything can happen in jersey! All my devils bros will understand that one lol. But anyways, trading Ty Smith is giving the Canucks basically a worse version of Quinn Hughes, whilst adding a very good prospect (and former 1st round pick) in Nolan Foote, and a good projected bottom pairing defenseman in Vukojevic. Not to mention they also get our first round pick this year (top 3 protected). I should also mention that Muhkamadullin might be more realistic than Vukojevic to get the deal done, and it’s not something I’d be against seeing as how Luke Hughes looks like a freaking stud. Lastly, trade Tomas Tatar to a contending team which can probably get back a 3rd round pick if the Devils are lucky.

*The Tatar deal should happen at 2022 TD, and Boeser and Hughes deal should happen in offseason, Boeser’s obviously before resigning phase.

3. Sign free agents in Josh Manson, Ville Husso, and the goat, Scott Wedgewood. Manson is a great shutdown defenseman who brings experience to a devils lineup lacking experience and a good shut-down defenseman. 2x4mil should be good enough to lure him away from Cali. Husso is having a great year in St. Louis and looks to be getting a hefty reward this off-season, and would fit in great with Blackwood as a 1A and 1B tandem. Lets just hope he doesn’t retire or injure himself for his career within his first year. Wedgwood is used as the third goalie when Husso or Blackwood evidently get United during the season, although I’m very curious to see how Nico Daws and Akira Schmid will do next season if given the chance to play in the big leagues again.

1.

2.

3.