The New Jersey Devils were back in action Tuesday night at Prudential Center against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers. Both teams are built similarly, but the one thing that separates them is that Florida has been there already, with the Devils looking to become that team.
NHL Rumors: Tom Fitzgerald Looking To Add Depth to New Jersey Devils Roster
Before the puck dropped on the game, ESPN Hockey Analyst Kevin Weekes dropped a little nugget on X/Twitter about the New Jersey Devils being a team that will be looking to add scoring and depth on defense at the NHL Trade Deadline.
@NJDevils have had a really good season to date, I’m told they’re interested in potentially adding more scoring and depth on D. #NJDevils #HockeyX
— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) January 15, 2025
As TheDevilsNation.com has reported, the Devils need a top-six scoring presence. In the offseason, offense was not an issue for the Devils president and general manager, Tom Fitzgerald, who believed there was enough scoring to win games. However, that has not been the case. You can clearly see that the Devils need a top-six consistent goal scorer. They just do not have that.
Tom Fitzgerald always looking to add to positions of strength. Biggest thing the Devils have needed has been scoring. Have been reporting that since July. Need depth at Centre & D. #njdevils @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor @DevilsNationX @TheRGMedia https://t.co/zQkcOO9irk
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) January 15, 2025
The New Jersey Devils have been shut out six times this season, and that is not like this team. New Jersey takes pride in not getting shut out. Here in lies the issue for the Devils. Having a consistent goal scorer will solve the Devils needs. Whether that is internal or not is another story.
While Weekes did not mention any names, the list of potential players the Devils could trade for is not long. Does anyone really believe players like Brock Nelson or Kyle Palmieri will be traded from the New York Islanders? Their GM always believes his team is in it until they are not. The Islanders should sell but probably won’t. It is unlikely a reunion with Taylor Hall will happen.
New Jersey Devils Have Two of the Top 20 Centers in the NHL
Could the Devils look out west and maybe try to get Brock Boeser out of Vancouver? But Fitzgerald is always looking to add to his roster.
Devils Want Defense and a Center
The New Jersey Devils upgraded their defense in the offseason. The additions of Johnathan Kovacevic, Brenden Dillon, and Brett Pesce have paid dividends. New Jersey has always been a defense-first team, but having depth in that position will be huge come the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Devils need a player or two that can rotate in, as this group has logged a lot of minutes.
Again, Weekes did not mention any names, but you would expect it would be a depth defenseman who knows their role as a sixth or seventh defenseman.
NHL Rumors: The New Jersey Devils Are Linked to Montreal Canadiens Jake Evans
In addition, the Devils are looking for depth at center, as TheDevilsNation.com has documented. A guy like Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens could be a perfect fit for the Devils. Even for a player like Yanni Gourde, it all depends on the price. Potentially, the Devils could go after a player like Tommy Novak.
However, with so many teams in contention, the market will dictate what the New Jersey Devils do. Those sellers we all thought would be there might hold off on making a trade. Not to mention, there is added pressure from the Four Nations Face-off to get deals done before the March 7th Trade Deadline.
It appears the New Jersey Devils could have an active Trade Deadline to fill in areas of strengths and weaknesses.
