It is no secret that the New Jersey Devils have been actively looking for a center since the beginning of the season. Their depth down the middle was already being tested, as Michael McLeod was lost due to off-ice issues. However, even before that, after Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier, there was Curtis Lazar, Erik Haula, and Dawson Mercer.
So the Devils center ice position was already thin. Losing a guy like McLeod who was excellent in the faceoff dot and penalty killer really put this team behind the eight ball as he came into his own as a bottom six guy. But now, the Devils’ center position is being tested even more, with Jack Hughes out of the lineup.
NHL Rumors: Devils Looking to Add Multiple Forwards
Hughes crashed into the boards late in Sunday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. His right shoulder and arm went hard into the boards. After the game, head coach Sheldon Keefe said Hughes was being evaluated as it did not look good. Then, prior to the game on Tuesday against the Dallas Stars, Keefe reiterated that the Devils still did not know the extent of the injury and the timeline of how long he was going to be out.
However, during the ESPN broadcast, Emily Kaplan confirmed that Jack Hughes was in Colorado visiting the same doctor who had performed his left shoulder surgery and was weighing the options of whether surgery was needed.
Here is the latest on Jack Hughes from @emilymkaplan and @Buccigross from ESPN prior to the Devils Game
My understanding is the same thing they stated about his status. When you saw you knew it was bad. #njdevils pic.twitter.com/n7xZwfSkaf
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 5, 2025
NHL Rumors: Tom Fitzgerald Looking To Add Depth to New Jersey Devils Roster
But Hughes’s injury has not changed the Devils’ deadline plans, as they want to be buyers at the deadline. Even before the injury, the Devils were looking to fill needs not only at the center position but also by getting scoring help in the top six and on defense.
As reported by @Buccigross & @emilymkaplan at the 2nd intermission plans don’t change w/ Jack Hughes injury. They are going to be buyers & active.
Emily brings up Brock Boeser, Ryan Donato, Scott Laughton, and Brock Nelson.
Been saying they need scoring since July. #njdevils pic.twitter.com/4P9wrRA7g1
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 5, 2025
As Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts Podcast, the New Jersey Devils have been one of the more active teams. GM Tom Fitzgerald has also been one of the most active general managers. The Devils even checked with the St. Louis Blues about Brayden Schenn but found the price too high.
The Devils, even before that had happened, were looking for a center. They’d been pretty known about that. They’d been very active. Tom Fitzgerald had been one of the most active general managers,” Friedman said. “He was looking for a center. I think he was also looking for a defenseman. You know, you sit here and you look at it and, you know, I think they were one of the teams that poked around on Brayden Schenn, but didn’t like the price.”
But he was not the only insider who could confirm this report. Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period even stated the Devils were looking to add.
“Yeah, they do, yeah. And just starting there, they absolutely do with how last season played out. Unfortunately, they battled injuries then, and they were out of the mix, but this year, with how they’re playing, yeah, I think, without question Tom Fitzgerald is going to continue to approach this as buyers mode, even without Jack Hughes, if he is out an extended period of time. It was a rough crash into the boards that he had to deal with yesterday (Sunday night), they’ll get better, a better indication today (Monday) as to his his status, and even if it is long term, if he is out, yeah, they’re going To continue to look to add.
No secret, they wanted to bring in somebody at the center position for the bottom six. If Jack’s out for an extended period, it’s going to give them a little bit of flexibility in terms of where they can add to it. But even if he is done for a while, I can’t imagine New Jersey is going to shift their focus and just kind of extend things, or expand things, I should say, with regards to adding to that group.”
NHL Rumors: Devils Have Work To Do on Defense
So the question is, where will the Devils look for an answer? Hard to imagine their former GM Lou Lamoriello with the New York Islanders looks to help them out. That takes Kyle Palmieri and Brock Nelson out of play. Yanni Gourde, Ryan Donato, Ryan O’Reilly, and Scott Laughton are still options in the center position. However, O’Reilly and Laughton will cost the Devils more. Could they look for a longer-term solution and add a player with term like Dylan Cozens.
As far as scoring goes do they try to re-engage with the Vancouver Canucks and talk to them about Brock Boeser. What about Mikko Rantanen, more on that at another time, but would Carolina want to do that? Whatever they decide to do, they could have the cap space with Hughes on LTIR and about $8 million to use.
One thing is clear: the New Jersey Devils have been an active team ahead of the deadline.
