However, there are still some appealing players available on the market and one of them is previous New Jersey Devils winger Tomas Tatar. Tatar has been linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but fans have picked up on Tatar still skating in full Devils equipment. I figured it would be something to at least touch on.  

If GM Tom Fitzgerald were to be interested in bringing Tatar back on a team-friendly one-year deal to bolster their top-nine, the Devils would most likely have to shed salary or move some money around to make it work. Keep in mind, per CapFriendly, the Devils only have $1,919,167 remaining in cap space. 

Though it’s unlikely, today we will discuss what the positives and negatives of bringing Tatar back on a short-term deal could mean.  

Running it Back with Tomas Tatar: Pros and Cons 

PROs 

• Elite top 9  

It’s clear the Devils have an elite top six, but GM Tom Fitzgerald stressed the importance of also having an elite top nine. Finding a way to bring Tatar back would absolutely bolster the Devils third line and fill the gap at the RW3 position if Alexander Holtz was not ready for that role. Having a third line of Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Tatar would be simply dominant. 

• 5v5 Play 

My favorite attribute about Tatar is his 5v5 metrics, New Jersey outscored their opponents 61-28 with Tatar on the ice at 5v5.  

There’s no question Tatar has very strong on-ice impacts at even strength, he has the playmaking ability to get himself in open areas of the ice and the hockey sense to find an open teammate or bury the puck if needed. Tatar is suitable for 15-25 goals depending on who he is playing with.  

• Defensive Metrics 

Tatar’s defensive game is quite strong as well. He finished the season with a +33-goal differential at full strength finishing second on the team to defenseman Dougie Hamilton. 

Tatar finished last season with an even-strength defense of –0.29 xGA/60 which is impressive.   

CONs 

• Moving Holtz Out of the Lineup 

For quite some time now, Devils fans have been foaming at the mouth to get elite shooter, Alex Holtz on the big club. One can argue he already has the best shot on the team.  

Adding Tatar would come at the price of Holtz either being sent back to Utica to play with the Comets or at least starting the season as the extra forward and watching from the box.  

The Devils have already been down this road with Holtz, and it would probably be the worst scenario for his confidence and development.  

• Playoff Bust 

Bust may be harsh but am I wrong? When the Devils originally signed Tatar, he was already coming off a dreadful playoff performance with the Montreal Canadians where he hardly even played due to his lack of performance.  

Though Tatar’s regular season numbers spiked last year, he still looked nonexistent come playoff time. In 12 playoff games, Tatar posted only one goal and zero assists combining for an abysmal –7 +/-. Tatar finished with 4.58 primary shot contributions at 5v5 (well below his regular season average), and his play-driving ability plummeted to a 48% xGF% over 12 games.    

• Salary Cap  

If the Devils were to add Tatar, there’s no question they would have to move money around to even make a team-friendly deal work. This kind of move is possible by far, but I’m not convinced it would be in their best interest.  

The Devils have just under $2M in cap space, the remaining money should be used at the trade deadline in reserve for injury. Let’s face it, injuries are inevitable, and the Devils don’t know what obstacles they may have to hurdle at the trade deadline.  

• Goaltender  

This one kind of goes with the salary cap narrative but Fitzgerald has stressed over the offseason that he wanted to bring in another starting-caliber goaltender. Fitzy prefers to have Akira Schmid play a full season at the AHL level with the Utica Comets to get in the habit of taking on a full workload. 

With the addition of Tatar, there would be no chance the Devils could possibly manage to add another goaltender to fill in the depth behind Vitek Vanecek.  

Though the addition of Tatar would add tremendous depth and value to the Devils top nine, it seems the negatives heavily outweigh the positives in this case. Sure, adding Tatar on a team-friendly deal for another season would make the Devils’ offense dangerous, but there’s more value in adding depth to other areas or simply waiting until the trade deadline for team needs.  

Not to mention, do we really want to see Holtz in the press box again? I firmly believe it’s finally Holtz season and this is his time to shine! Don’t expect to see Tatar in a Devil uniform again come the start of training camp.  

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Nosek, on the wrong side of 30, will add some veteran presence to a young Devils team that could use a little more experience. Nosek is a 6’2 bottom-six forward who specializes in puck battles and faceoffs.  

Today we’re going to break down what the addition of Nosek means for the Devils. 

 What Nosek Brings to the New Jersey Devils

Playoff Experience

Nosek is no stranger to playoff hockey. He’s made the playoffs every season since the 2017-18 campaign totaling 52 games. Nosek has six goals and eight assists for 14 points in that span.  

GM Tom Fitzgerald has stressed the importance of adding players like Nosek to the roster to help get the younger guys acclimated to NHL hockey and what it takes to grind through a playoff run.  

Adding a player like Nosek to the system should help players like Alex Holtz, Graeme Clarke, and Nolan Foote on and off the ice.   

Versatility

It’s no secret that head coach Lindy Ruff likes to switch up his line combinations when things are not going well. Nosek was most utilized with the Boston Bruins as a fourth-line center. 

On the Devils team website, he’s listed as a left-winger but I wouldn’t buy too much into this. We know once Ruff starts to shuffle his lines, things tend to become unpredictable. With Nosek, Ruff will have more options to move players around where he feels he has a matchup advantage or if an inevitable injury occurs.  

Lastly, many Devil fans know by now that Michael McLeod may possibly be involved in the Canada investigation. If McLeod is indeed involved, he most likely will incur an indefinite suspension. The addition of Nosek provides the Devils with some insurance at fourth-line center if they lose McLeod.  

Faceoff Specialist 

One of Nosek’s best traits over the span of his career is winning faceoffs. Nosek has won 54.7% of his draws throughout his career and has never been below 50%. Last season alone, he won 59% of his draws with the Bruins.  

With how good Nosek is on the faceoff, there is a chance we see Nosek utilized the same way Ruff would use McLeod. Sometimes Ruff would throw McLeod out there in the offensive zone or overtime to win the faceoff. Nosek will be a good situational addition to the roster.  

Above Average Penalty Killer 

I wouldn’t quite call Nosek “elite”, but he is capable of filling the Yegor Sharangovich role. Nosek doesn’t have the breakaway speed or shot of Sharangovich, but he is reliant and an all-around above-average situational defender.  

Of 12 penalty killers to play 50+ minutes for Boston last season, Nosek was on for 4.28 goals against per 60 placing him middle of the pack in xG suppression. Nosek also averaged 2:33 of shorthanded ice time per game, which ranked him second on the team.  

It’s obvious the signing of Tomas Nosek doesn’t move the needle a ton. The signing is strictly for depth, penalty killing, and faceoffs.  

The presence of locker-room leadership and playoff experience will add to what Fitzgerald was looking for in the offseason. Sitting at 6’2 will also add some size to the Devils as well. Nosek doesn’t play a physically grueling game, but he knows how to use his body in dirty areas of the ice. 

Nosek is not going to give the Devils much offense, if any. He plays a pretty simple game and was signed to add stability in areas the Devils were lacking. However, it’s a smart move by the Devils to add depth to their bottom six and insurance if Mcleod receives an indefinite suspension.   

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With the Devils getting the most important moves out of the way, it still remains to be seen if GM Tom Fitzgerald is going to dip into the goalie market.  

Keep in mind, the Devils don’t have to make a move. There is always the option of running it back in net with Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid if that’s the route the Devils decide to go.  

Per Cap Friendly, the Devils have $5.6M remaining in cap space and rumors have been swirling since the start of free agency if the Devils will have interest in adding an elite goaltender. 

Today we’re going to dive into the goaltender market and investigate who the Devils may have an interest in acquiring.  

Remaining Goaltender Targets for the New Jersey Devils

Connor Hellebuyck  

At the beginning of Free Agency, Pierre LeBrun reported on TSN that the Devils have an interest in acquiring Connor Hellebuyck.  

Hellebuyck has one year remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $6,166,666 which would bring him to free agency as a UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent) for the 2024-25 season. 

No doubt about it, Hellebuyck is the best goaltender available. He has an average SV% (Save Percentage) of .916 with a GAA (Goals Against Average) of 2.66 over his entire career.  

Don’t get me wrong, Hellebuyck is among the best of the best and gives you elite consistency but that is a huge cap hit. If the Devils acquired Hellebuyck, the Winnipeg Jets would have to retain some salary to make it work. In return, the Devils would have to part with some serious assets for a goaltender who would become a UFA by the end of the season.  

John Gibson  

On 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman added Anaheim Ducks goaltender John Gibson to the list of potential New Jersey Devil targets.  

Gibson is tied to a long contract with a $6.4M AAV (Average Annual Value) with four years remaining that brings him to free agency as a UFA in 2027-28. 

Gibson is a freak athlete who has struggled for the past five years. We know he’s a very athletic goaltender, but his numbers have fallen off a cliff partly due to playing for a struggling Ducks team who tends to give up plenty of high-danger chances. Over the last five seasons, Gibson has been sporting a .905 SV% and averaging a 3.2 GAA.  

 I would not be a fan of acquiring Gibson from the Ducks. There’s simply too much risk in attaining a struggling goaltender who has four years remaining on a relatively pricy contract. Though a change of scenery could be exactly what Gibson needs, there’s just too much risk in taking that chance. 

Logan Thompson  

A week or two ago, it was reported by a few outlets that goaltender Logan Thompson would make sense as a possible fit for the Devils.  

Thompson is a 26-year-old goaltender for the Las Vegas Golden Knights with 57 games of NHL experience under his belt. What is so appealing about Thompson is he’s signed to a very team-friendly deal with a cap hit of $766,667 for the next two years which will bring him to free agency as a UFA.  

There’s not too much data to go off, but in a vacuum, he’s done a pretty good job. Over his entire career (57 games) he averages a .915 SV% with a GAA of 2.65.  

If I were the Devils, this is the player and contract I’d be looking into. Thompson isn’t even close to an elite goaltender and certainly isn’t in the category of the last two players we’ve talked about, but risk vs reward here looks pretty good. Thompson has shown he’s capable of an NHL workload and could be a good option with a very team-friendly cap hit.  

Juuse Saros 

There hasn’t been too much noise surrounding Saros and the Devils, but we’ve recently started to hear a few rumblings.  

Juuse Saros has two years left on his deal with an AAV of $5M, bringing him to free agency as a UFA for the 2025-26 season.  

In my opinion, the 28-year-old Finnish netminder should be the Devils’ number one target if they decide to go after a goalie. Over the last five seasons, Saros has an average SV% of .919 with a GAA of 2.59.  

Saros would give the Devils elite goaltending with a more reasonable cap hit than the other two options of Gibson and Hellebuyck. Last season, he led the league in GSAE (Goals Saved Above Expected), shots against, and shots saved.  

With highly drafted prospect Yaroslav Askarov shortly on his way to the Nashville Predators, Saros could be on the move and he checks all of the boxes for what the Devils should be looking for. Getting two years of Saros below market value would be a great addition to this Devils team. 

Adding a goaltender is more of a want for the Devils than a need. The organization could easily run back Vanecek and Schmid as their goaltenders for the upcoming season. GM Fitzgerald has quoted in recent weeks the interest in adding an elite goaltender, but he never ruled out the chance of bringing back Vanecek and Schmid. Whatever the Devils decide to do in the coming weeks, this team is going to be very fun to watch regardless. 

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Best NHL Unrestricted Free Agents Still Available

1. Patrick Kane (Right Wing)

Due to off-season hip surgery, Patrick Kane is expected to miss the start of the regular season and could even be out anywhere from October to December. This means Kane will likely wait until he’s healthy to sign with a team. Kane was traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline after spending 15 seasons and winning three Stanley Cups with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In 73 games last season for both teams, Kane scored 21 goals and had 36 assists. He had a disappointing transition after the trade though as he only scored five of the goals with the Rangers and had only seven assists. He also only scored one goal in the playoffs (seven games). Kane has vowed to feel better than ever when he’s healthy and turn it around from last season as he looks to prove he’s still a dangerous player.

2. Vladimir Tarasenko (Right Wing)

Joining Kane on the Rangers at the trade deadline was Vladimir Tarasenko, a sight no one thought they’d ever see. He came over from the St. Louis Blues after 11 years with the team. The tank scored 18 goals last season with 32 assists. Life after the trade went a little better than Kane’s did, as he scored eight goals and had 13 assists with New York. He also scored three goals in seven playoff games.

Despite shoulder injuries that have kept Tarasenko sidelined in the past, he still has a lethal sniper in his arsenal and has looked relativity healthy. The wait for him to sign might take just a little bit longer as it was announced that he changed agents and is now represented by JP Barry and Pat Brisson of CAA, the same group that represents some of the biggest names in the league. This is the first time Tarasenko has been a free agent so he feels change is the best way to get the best deal on the market.

3. Patrice Bergeron (Center)

It has been said that Patrice Bergeron will play only for the Boston Bruins so he will either re-sign with them or retire. If your Boston, re-signing him is a no-brainer if that’s what he’s looking to do. At the age of 37 last season, he played 78 games with 27 goals and 31 assists and still factors in on this team’s first line.

He not only can play on offense but is also great on the defensive side, making him one of the most dominant two-way players the game has seen. If me not saying it wasn’t enough, he has the hardware to prove it as he just got done winning his sixth career Selke Trophy for the best defensive forward in the game. He’s played 19 seasons in Boston and they’d love it if he at least rounded out that number to 20.

4. Matt Dumba (Defenseman)

The best defenseman left still on the board is 2012 first-round pick Matt Dumba. He’s been with the Minnesota Wild for 10 seasons and put up good numbers on offense, having 236 career points with 79 goals and 157 assists. In addition to the offense, he’s a tough defenseman who isn’t afraid to throw his body around when he needs to.

To go along with his toughness, he can play top-four minutes, playing just over 21 per game last season and logging 22 or more minutes in each of the last six seasons. His offense has taken a little dip in recent years, especially last year when he only scored 4 goals with 10 assists in 79 games. While his offense has slipped a little, he statistically improved his defense. Despite the offensive numbers recently, Dumba is still a weapon to have and has the ability to turn it around.

5. Thomas Tatar (Left Wing)

In all 82 games, Thomas Tatar tallied his highest goal and assist total since 2019-20. He scored 20 goals to go along with 28 assists this past season. Tatar has a really good shot that makes him a solid scorer but he can also play on the defensive side as well. He’s an underrated two-way player and that’s a desire for any team in the league.

After an underwhelming 2021-22, Tatar had an important bounce-back season in a contract year that will see him get some interest as we get later into the offseason. One thing that was a concern from last season was his playoff performance, scoring only a goal and having no assists in 12 games for the New Jersey Devils. While that was the case, Tatar’s regular season is enough to show he still has a lot of game left in him.

6. David Krejci (Center)

After spending a season playing in the Czech Republic, David Krejci returned last season and his production showed why he’s still a valuable piece in this league. He still has great play-making ability, showcasing his passing as one of the best in the NHL. He followed up his 36-assist season in 2020-21 with 40 assists last season. Krejci also netted 16 goals and had 4 points in four playoff games in 2023.

Like Bergeron, it’s either return to the Bruins or retire from the NHL for the 37-year-old. Krejci was drafted by Boston in 2004 and has been there ever since, playing 16 seasons with the team. If he were to return, he would solidify the Bruins’ second line down the middle and would be a key piece in the 2023-24 team.

Other Notable Unresticted Free Agents:

Max Comtois (Left Wing)
Jonathan Toews (Center)
Oskar Sundqvist (Center)
Denis Gurianov (Right Wing)
Pius Suter (Left Wing)
Josh Bailey (Right Wing)
Martin Jones (Goaltender)
Phil Kessel (Right Wing)

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3 Reasons Why the Blues Drafting Dvorsky Was the Right Move

Fills a Need Down the Middle

The Blues went into the NHL Draft with two positions of need, defenseman, and center. When two of the top blue liners went off the board, GM Doug Armstrong turned to down the middle of the ice and selected Dvorsky. This was the clear and obvious choice for the franchise if you look at what the Blues have among their prospect pool and what the state of the position could be in the future at the NHL level.

Robert Thomas is clearly their top centerman and will anchor the first line but after that, it gets kind of sketchy. The Blues have guys like Nikita Alexandrov and Zack Dean who could really help down the middle but they aren’t looked at like a Dvorsky is. They are really high Zachary Bolduc but he is projected to slide over to wing. The Blues did, however, draft centerman Otto Stenberg with their 25th overall pick, who is talented, but not on the level of Dvorsky.

At the NHL level (aside from Alexandrov), the Blues have good talent like Brayden Schenn and Kevin Hayes anchoring the second and third line down the middle but they are getting up there in age (both 31) and the tea, will be looking for youth to set their long-term plans, like Dvorsky.

Dvorsky has some things to improve upon but he projects as a second-line center at the highest level and that’s exactly what the Blues are hoping the 10th overall pick turns into.

His Shooting Ability

Coming into the draft, Dvorsky’s shooting ability was looked at as one of the best in this year’s class. Whether it’s his wrist shot or slap shot, the 18-year-old centerman displays power and quickness but what might be even more impressive about his shot is his accuracy. When he has space to set up shop and find his target, he can be a problem. Dvorsky can get himself into a scoring position and isn’t afraid to shoot, which is where his accuracy shines. He can create offense just off of his shot alone and has the patients to wait for the shot he is looking for. 

Another layer to his game that makes his shot so accurate is his strong puck-handling and puck-possession ability. This past season, he had six goals and eight assists in the Allsvenskan League, which is known to be a low-scoring league. He also put up an impressive 10 goals and 11 assists in 10 games for Sweden’s junior team while scoring eight goals and having five assists in seven games for Team Slovakia in the 2023 IIHF World Under-18 Championship. Dvorsky has shown he can score, making him a great addition for the Blues looking to improve in that area.

He’s a Berube-type Player

The one thing the Blues have looked for over the past several years are Berube-type players and Dvorsky fits that description to a tee. As much as we talk about his shot and offense, he is an incredible two-way player, holding one of the best if not the best defensive games of a forward in the draft. He has incredible sense and anticipation on defense that allows him to read the play before it happens. Dvorsky’s backchecking and willingness to be physical are what sets him apart from others. 

This all makes Dvorsky a 200-foot player who works hard at both ends of the ice, emptying the tank no matter the situation. The toughness, grit, consistency, and workhorse mentality perfectly exemplify what head coach Craig Berube looks for in a player. His two-game shows that he can play extremely well both on the power-play and penalty kill, making him even more valuable.

Dvorsky is highly coachable that will do whatever is asked, which is why making this pick was the right choice. Assuming Berube is still with the Blues by the time Dvorsky makes it to the NHL, he will be one of the go-to guys for the team for a long time.

Final Thoughts

While Dvorsky obviously won’t be NHL-ready in 2023-24, there’s thought that he could be ready by 2024-25 at the earliest. While his strengths were very much highlighted, he does have a clear weakness and that’s his skating. While that part of his game is questionable, it’s something that can be worked on and improved before getting the call to the NHL. If he can elevate that part of his game, the sky is the limit. Dvorsky has a ton of upside to his game and can be an anchor down the middle as a projected second-line center.

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The trade was a fleece! Yes, I’m not afraid to say it, an absolute fleece! I’m so confident with what Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has done that I don’t even want to waste any more time. Let’s dive right in with three reasons this is a massive win for the Devils.  

Devils Fleece Flames for Tyler Toffoli

Who is Tyler Toffoli?

Toffoli is a 31-year-old top-six right-shot winger who can really rip the puck and play off the rush. He is a well-above-average goal scorer who also ranks in the 93rd percentile with in-zone exits. For the Devils, he is the perfect fit for what they’re looking for, it almost seems like a perfect marriage.  

Per data from CapFriendly, Toffoli has a projected WAR% (Wins Above Replacement Percentage) of 91%. He has an Evolving Offense of 85% and an Evolving Defense of 73% with his finishing coming in at 87%. The guy is a playmaker in many facets of the game who will really give the Devils the scoring boost they’re looking for. You can also get used to seeing Toffoli on the power play where he’s going to feast on goalies in the Devils system.  

Toffoli was so good for the Flames last season, his totals were higher than his previous season. He averaged 0.93 goals per 60 minutes at five-on-five and finished with 34 goals and 73 points.  

The Devils can now trot out a top-six of Meier-Hughes-Mercer and Bratt-Hischier-Toffoli giving both lines very capable scoring options. There’s no question the Devils are a much better team with Toffoli now in the mix. 

The Trade Package 

When reports were originally swirling that the Flames may be shopping Toffoli, the assumed return on assets seemed to be much more than what the Devils seemed to have given up.  

For a player of Toffoli’s caliber, coming off a career season on a sub $4.5 million contract, I would’ve expected the Flames to fetch Yegor Sharangovich, the Devils 2025 first-round pick (their 2024 first-round pick was used in a conditional trade for Timo Meier), and an A or B level prospect. Let’s say, Seamus Casey.  

Instead, the Devils were able to land Toffoli for only RFA Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick. The free third-round pick was acquired in the Damon Severson sign-and-trade only a week or so ago. Sharangovich and the Flames haven’t even kicked tires on contact talks yet. This isn’t a scenario where we see a sign-and-trade to get more value in assets coming back the other way. 

This was strictly a fleece from Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald. We’re talking about giving away a player who had a 16-point drop-off (Sharangovich) and a free third-round pick for a guy who the coach of the Montreal Canadians called “captain material”.  

Toffoli will bring leadership and added experience to the Devils. He has 733 games under his belt, 227 goals, and 239 assists, for 466 points.  

The Contract

A very interesting piece that makes Toffoli so attractive is his contract situation. He has a year left on his contract before he becomes a UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent), but he has a cap hit of $4.25 million with a base salary of only $3.5 million.   

In his 2021-2022 season, Toffoli totaled 20 goals and 29 assists for 49 points. This past season, Toffoli’s stats spiked to 34 goals and 39 assists for 73 points. His increase in production makes his contract situation much more appealing.  

Now with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier as his center, there’s no doubt Toffoli will be ready to cook come next season. 

One could argue that Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils have won the offseason so far to this point. We aren’t even to the NHL Draft yet and Fitzy seems to have made plenty of positive moves to better the team. I have full confidence that Fitzgerald will keep making the right decisions to better the Devils’ chances of becoming cup contenders for many years to come. Get ready Devils fans, it seems next season is going to be a heck of a ride.  

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LeBrun on Insider Trading: “The New Jersey Devils are one of the teams we understand that Connor Hellebuyck would be interested in signing an extension with in a sign-and-trade. New Jersey has investigated it, and they’ve had a conversation with Winnipeg, but I think what probably would give NJ pause and some other teams is the kind of money that Hellebuyck would want in an extension, we believe that to be in the Vasilevskiy range, $9.95M per year.” 

As exciting as landing a goalie of Hellebuyck’s caliber would be, today we’re going to play devil’s advocate and list four reasons why the New Jersey Devils should not trade for Connor Hellebuyck. 

Three Negatives on the New Jersey Devils Possibly Trading for Hellebuyck 

Too Much Money

As LeBrun mentioned above, Hellebuyck is asking for Vasilevskiy-type money which would be around the $9.5M range. If a trade were to take place, do the Devils have the money to take on a long-term extension for Hellebuyck? The answer should be no, but they could make it work if Hellebuyck is who they really want. 

The Devils already have five players on contracts making north of $7 million dollars with Timo Meier looking for an extension between the $8-9 million range.  

Considering Dougie Hamilton is getting paid $9M, extending Hellebuyck to a $9.5 million dollar contract (what he’s asking for) would give the Devils two players on long-term extensions of $9 million or above. 

With Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes, and Simon Nemec looking for extensions after their ELC (Entry Level Contracts) burns up, taking on another long-term extension could be a recipe for disaster. 

Age  

Let’s face it, Hellebuyck is already on the wrong side of 30. He’s got one year left on the expiring contract he already has and will be looking for a long-term extension of say eight years.  

Does GM Tom Fitzgerald really think signing an eight-year contract to an elite goaltender north of 30 is a good idea? We would be looking at Hellebuyck’s extension expiring near the age of 38 to 39.  

Don’t get me wrong, Hellebuyck is the real deal and has shown no flashes of regression, but you’ve got to think as he grows older the wheels will start to fall off or the risk of injury is much greater. 

This also comes from an organization that knows a thing or two about signing goalies to long-term contracts and ends in disaster, a la Corey Schneider.   

Asset Management 

So, let’s say the Devils and Jets agree to terms on a sign-and-trade to bring Hellebuyck to New Jersey. Even after a massive cap hit, there’s still another obstacle to hurdle. What assets would a sign-and-trade for an elite goaltender in Hellebuyck cost the Devils? 

Well, for starters, the Devils would almost certainly have to give up their 2025 first-round pick. The Devils 2024 first-rounder can’t be moved due to conditions from the Timo Meier trade.  

The Jets would then need a goaltender to replace Hellebuyck so one would assume they would try to pry Akira Schmid from the Devils. Though it’s doubtful the New Jersey Devils will give up Schmid, they’d likely try to give up Vitek Vanecek to shed some cap.  

Losing Vanecek to add Hellebuyck sounds like a pretty good deal for the Devils, right? Well, if Winnipeg was forced to take on Vanecek then they would most likely demand the rights to the number seven overall pick in the 2020 draft, Alex Holtz.  

I’d imagine Yegor Sharangovich would be part of a deal to give the Jets some added scoring and help on special teams as well.  

Another direction the Devils could move with Hellebuyck is adding him on a shorter-term contract to avoid regression and cap implications far into the future. Still, as earlier reported, that is not what Hellebuyck is looking for.  

Whatever Tom Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils decide to do with Hellebuyck, it will be a franchise-altering decision. Though nothing in the NHL is guaranteed, adding an elite goaltender in Hellebuyck could dramatically improve the Devils’ chances of winning a cup, but it could also damage the cap for the future.  

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The deal lands the Swedish winger the third highest-paid contract on the team sandwiched between center Jack Hughes ($8M AAV) and captain Nico Hischier ($7.25 AAV). 

Today, we’re going to go over four important takeaways from the lucrative contract the two sides agreed upon.  

Four Takeaways from Jesper Bratt’s New Contract 

Hidden Gem

One of the most fascinating takeaways is the fact that Bratt has come from being a #162 overall draft pick to a $63 million man at the young age of 24. Bratt was a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft who hit the ground running right out of camp.  

Finding a player that late in the draft with as much success in the NHL as Bratt has had is like finding a needle in a haystack. On average, only 15% of fifth and sixth-round picks play some games in the NHL, let alone becoming a star and bonafide play-driver.  

Bratt has turned into a dynamic two-way forward with an accurate shot and skilled rush play who has no issues with driving a line if needed. His 2022-2023 scorecard projects to have an Offensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) value of 94% with a finishing WAR% coming in right below at 91%. There’s no question this guy knows how to generate offense and put the puck in the back of the net.  

I’ve seen a lot of Twitter GMs and Devil fans breaking down the value of Bratt’s contract and I think everyone needs to just stop what they’re doing and take a second to acknowledge the fact the New Jersey Devils hit a home run with Jesper Bratt and the progression he’s made since his eligible draft year. Not often do you find a star player of Bratt’s caliber in the sixth round of the NHL Draft. 

Term That Should Age Well

In the last few months, much of the debate has been around GM Tom Fitzgerald’s comments stating he wanted to keep his players’ AAV below the Jack Hughes contract signed for $8 million. Getting lost in this topic was the length of the contract. 

With the NHL salary cap projected to rise within the next couple of years, we’ve seen RFA (Restricted Free Agent) contracts getting shorter. Star players are wanting to sign deals at a higher AAV on a lesser term contract of maybe three-to-five years. The process behind a deal like this offers a star player the opportunity to cash in on another contract when the cap goes up. 

With that being said, I expected Bratt and his camp to settle on a three-to-five-year contract of around $8 million so they can yet again cash in when Bratt hits the healthy age of around 28-30. However, that was not the case. Fitzgerald and the New Jersey Devils did a spectacular job of getting Bratt locked up for eight years.  

The term on the Bratt contract is a win in many different ways for the Devils. Having Bratt locked up at $7.875M for the next eight years will allow the Devils more cap space to work with down the road. Since the Devils’ core is all but locked up aside from Timo Meier, the added money can be used to add extra depth pieces in the bottom six when needed for a playoff run.  

Reasonable AAV

I’m not going to waste too much time on this one because it’s a topic that has been beaten to the ground the last few weeks. 

I don’t think the $7.875 AAV was a slam dunk or an out-of-the-park home run, but I do think it’s a healthy number for the Devils. Recent rumors had Bratt projected anywhere between $7.7M and $8.5M so it’s nice to see Bratt get in at the lower end of these projections.  

As I stated in the previous takeaway, GM Fitzgerald wanted to keep Bratt’s contract below star centerman Jack Hughes’ $8 million cap hit and that’s exactly what he got.  

Front Loaded Contract

As previously stated by New Jersey Devils team reporter Amanda Stein, Bratt’s contract has been front-loaded. Below is a breakdown of the contract.  

• 23-24: $10M 
• 24-25: $9M 
• 25-26: $9M 
• 26-27: $8M 
• 27-28: $7.2M 
• 28-29: $7.2M 
• 29-30: $6.6M 
• 30-31: $6M 

Total $63M (Bratt’s jersey number)  

 As you can see, the contract is very top-heavy in the beginning and drops off year by year. I’m a big fan of this considering the Devils have a few players coming in on ELC (Entry Level Contracts) this coming season. The Devils have the money now to take on a little extra cap to set themselves up down the road. Once the young players ’ELCs burn up, they will need a heavy extension and the fall-off on Bratt’s contract is a nice place to find some extra needed cap space for the future.  

Considering it took two years for Fitzgerald and Bratt’s camp to come together on a deal, this is a win for both sides. Fitzgerald stands his ground getting Bratt locked up below $8 million and Bratt gets a lucrative contract paying him for the next eight years while staying in New Jersey. 

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Top 2023 NHL Unrestricted Free Agents

1. Patrick Kane (Right Wing)

It was announced that Patrick Kane would undergo a hip resurfacing procedure and is expected to miss 4-6 months. While teams will be in no rush to sign the 34-year-old after this news, he’s still the biggest name on the free agent market. After spending 15 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Kane was traded to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. Between the two teams, he tallied 21 goals with 36 assists in 73 games.

The three-time Stanley Cup Champion said he would like to stay with the Rangers, although he understands the cap situation. His agent voiced that Kane would like to play for a long time and that this procedure would certainly help that. His skill level, hockey smarts, and past success will get him plenty of interest when he’s healthy.

2. Vladimir Tarasenko (Right Wing)

Another big-name player that was traded to the Rangers at the trade deadline was Vladimir Tarasenko. He scored 18 goals and had 32 assists between St. Louis and New York, with eight of the goals and 13 of the assists coming after the big trade. Tarasenko had some key moments in New York both in the regular season and in the playoffs but the result wasn’t in his favor.

The tank is known for his lethal sniper, scoring 270 goals in his 11-year career. He’s been hampered by a series of shoulder injuries from 2019 to 2021 but he’s been feeling relatively healthy, with the exception of a hand injury that caused him to miss 10 games this past season. The blistering wrister Tarasenko still puts on display is an example of that. For that reason, he will get a healthy multi-year contract come July.

3. Ryan O’Reilly (Center)

Tarasenko wasn’t the only one traded from the St. Louis Blues at the trade deadline, as Ryan O’Reilly was sent north of the border to the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped carry the Blues to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history in 2019 while also winning the Conn Smythe. While O’Reilly didn’t bring the same luck to Toronto as they would’ve hoped, he had a huge hand in finally getting them over the hump and past the first round, something they haven’t done prior to this year in almost 20 years.

O’Reilly tallied twelve goals and seven assists for the Blues while scoring four goals and also tallying seven assists for the Maple Leafs. In 11 playoff games with Toronto, he scored three goals and added six assists while also having 19 takeaways, which was top five in the playoffs. O’Reilly immediately slotted in and built a connection with his teammates, something Toronto has been looking for. He will be a hot commodity as one of the most sought-after unrestricted free agents on the market.

4. Dmitry Orlov (Defenseman)

Dmitry Orlov was yet another big name moved at the deadline, going from the Washington Capitals, where he spent 11 seasons, to the Boston Bruins. In 66 total games last season, he scored 7 goals and had 29 assists. He also chipped in eight assists in 7 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old is a top-pairing defenseman, showcasing his defensive game and high hockey IQ at both ends of the rink. Orlov has also tallied more ice time per game than any free agent this year, making him even more desirable for any team. He is the best defenseman on the market and will look to get the biggest contract of any unrestricted free agent at his position.

5. Alex Killorn (Right Wing/Left Wing)

After finishing his 7-year, $4.5M AAV contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023, Alex Killorn comes into free agency with a lot of interest surrounding him. He buried 27 goals and tallied 37 assists this past season after having 25 goals and 34 assists the previous year, both in 82 games. He is reliable and consistent, playing a huge role in the Lightning’s back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 2020 and 2021.

Killorn can play both right and left-wing, also making him a versatile threat that many find value in. While he set a career-high in goals and assists, he also enters free agency with the most points of any player on the market in 2023 (64). He’s played all 11 of his seasons in Tampa Bay, where he’s racked up over 800 games and with 466 points. His career year is set to give him one more solid payday with a contender come next season.

Other Unrestricted Free Agents

Tyler Bertuzzi
Michael Bunting
Matt Dumba
Adin Hill
Ivan Barbashev
Jason Zucker
Frederick Anderson
Max Domi
J.T. Compher
Max Pacioretty
Jonathan Toews
Tristan Jarry
Joonas Korpisalo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson
*Patrice Bergeron

*Has said to either re-sign with Boston or retire

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The deal for Severson is 8 years at $6.25M AAV (Average Annual Value) with $10.8M in bonuses which bolsters the Columbus Blue Jackets’ top-4 on the blue line. Below is a breakdown of Severson’s contract.  

-2023-23: $6M salary, $2M Bonus
-2024-25: $6M salary, $2M Bonus
-2025-26: $5.5M salary, $2M Bonus
-2026-27: $4.1M salary, $2M Bonus
-2027-28: $3.3M salary, $1.8M Bonus
-2028-29: $5.1M salary, $1M Bonus
-2029-30: $5.1M salary, No Bonus
-2030-31: $5.1M salary, No Bonus 

Today we will quickly take a look at what the trade does for both sides.  

Damon Severson Traded from Devils to Blue Jackets 

New Jersey Devils

There’s no question that losing Severson is a bitter taste in the mouth of Devils fans. He was New Jersey’s longest-tenured Devil and had overcome a ton of adversity. Most of his lengthy career with the team was during a rebuild. The reality of the situation is the Devils were going to lose Severson regardless. 

If GM Tom Fitzgerald wants to re-sign star wingers Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt, then something had to give in other areas due to cap complications. The Devils have a young star in the making Luke Hughes, who is more than prepared to step in and fill Severson’s role next year on an ELC (Entry Level Contract).  

Decision 

With Hughes ready to step up and UFA (Unrestricted Free Agent) Severson looking for a huge bag of money with a lengthy term, losing Severson was only a matter of time. The Devils only had two choices in this situation. 

Choice 1: Let Severson walk to free agency as the #1 touted prospect where he would be able to choose his future destination and risk receiving nothing in return. 

Choice 2: Trade Severson’s rights to an interested team and receive somewhat of a return in the process. 

The Devils seemed to go the second route by not only trading his rights to Columbus but signing Severson beforehand to maximize the return. The deal fetched the Devils a 3rd round pick which holds decent quality value for this year’s NHL Draft. Some pretty good work by GM Fitzgerald and the Devils. 

Columbus Blue Jackets

As a Devils fan, I can sit here all day and rave about the person and player Columbus is getting in Severson but nobody has time for that so I will try and make this brief. 

The Saskatchewan native, right-side offensive defenseman is an analytical darling with incredible passing ability. He has a knack for making bold passes which would result in either the occasional silly mistake or an incredible stretch pass across the ice for a high-danger chance.  

Severson has a WAR% (Wins Above Replacement) of 94%, which is very impressive. He can quarterback the PP2 (2nd line power play) and has a heavy shot that can get through traffic from the blue line.  

The Trade 

In the last 72 hours, the Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired Severson and Ivan Provorov, setting themselves up for a lethal blue line and a run at the playoffs. The trade clearly speeds up any sign of a rebuild in Columbus.  

I’ve always believed that if you feel the perfect player to fit your system is available on the market, then you should go get him and that’s exactly what the Blue Jackets did.

Giving up a third-round pick to solidify getting your player is more than worth the risk. I applaud Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekäläinen for locking up Severson before hitting the market and becoming available to other teams.  

The only thing about this trade I’m skeptical about is an 8-year contract will bring Severson to age 36, which will be after his prime. The back end of this contract just screams a buy-out if Severson cannot sustain the above-projected analytics.   

For now, the trade seems to be a win for everyone. The Devils receive a 3rd round pick, the Blue Jackets get their guy locked up for 8 years, and Severson gets the big bag of money he’s worked so hard to earn.  

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