The New Jersey Devils could be an active team this trade deadline season. As theDevilsNation.com has documented in our two-part trade deadline series, New Jersey wants to add not only upfront but also on the backend.
Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has always been an active GM. If he does not see something he likes, he will go fix it. Sometimes, his patience bothers some people. However, with the way the market is right now heading into Four Nations and the Trade Deadline, the sellers we thought would be there are not ready to part with players.
NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils Looking to Add Scoring and Defense
However, Fitzgerald knows he wants to depth not only on offense but on defense as well. He has a couple of question marks when it comes to players who could be on the team moving forward. Maybe a certain prospect becomes a trade chip to add scoring.
Time to look at what New Jersey wants to do on defense.
Devils Open To All Types of Players
Before we get into the defense, we need to mention Tom Fitzgerald’s interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, where he stated he is looking to add a player who can make them a deeper team. Not to mention, it does not matter whether that player is a “rental” or a player with term. He wants to add depth and competition to the roster. However, he does not want to mess with what he has built.
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Any good GM knows that he needs to add to his team. But they have to be mindful of the salary cap. Even though it is going up, Fitzgerald knows he has some free agents that he has to do with on his team that could affect things moving forward.
Devils Have Questions on Defense
The New Jersey Devils are looking to add defense this deadline season as well. According to Kevin Weekes of ESPN, the Devils are in the market for a defenseman.
@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
Tom Fitzgerald always looks to add to positions of strength. They need a seventh or eighth defenseman, as their current core is getting taxed. They are playing a lot of minutes. Specifically Johnathan Kovacevic. He was brought in to be a bottom-six guy, even a seventh guy, and he has been their best defensive defenseman this season.
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However, he also needs a new deal this offseason. As Jimmy Murphy of RG Media reports Fitzgerald and the Devils want to keep him. Talks are not underway, but the plan is to get them going soon.
In addition, the Devils 2nd overall pick, Simon Nemec, could be in play for the Devils if they decide to create that cap space and swing big. While Nemec did not ask to be traded, he is not happy with his current situation, and if it continues, that could be a conversation worth having.
He is an NHL defenseman. Will it be for the Devils? That is another story. It is most likely not, considering the depth the team has coming. Not to mention, Luke Hughes needs a new deal as well, which will affect things down the road.
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Luke Hughes could get close to what Brock Faber gets, which is $8 million on AAV. So there is some cap maneuvering the Devils will need to do if they add a defenseman with term. Again, it all depends on the Kovacevic deal and whether he stays or not.
But look for the New Jersey Devils to have an active deadline.
