The New Jersey Devils have been looking for scoring help since the beginning of the season. As DevilsNation.com and NHLRumors.com have documented, the Devils have been one of the more active teams. Devils President and GM Tom Fitzgerald has been busy working the phones, looking for the right upgrades to push his team into the playoffs
NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils Looking to Add Scoring and Defense
They did not get good news on Jack Hughes, who is now done for the season. However, Hughes’s injury will not change the Devils plans. They were already looking to be buyers and wanted to add a center. But could the Devils actually take a swing at Mikko Rantanen from their divisional rival, the Carolina Hurricanes?
Devils have called Carolina about Mikko Rantanen.
As stated on @FullPressNHL with @DcalabrettaTFP Carolina will be asking a lot from NJ with the potential of seeing him in the playoffs and for seasons to come but if he hits the market NJ will take a run at him. #njdevils
More… https://t.co/xHBaiagKRO pic.twitter.com/1jKtFKzEP2
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 5, 2025
While it is hypothetical for now, it is not out of the realm of possibility, as Pierre LeBrun states in the latest edition of TSN Insider Trading.
Well, Gino, they were already a pretty busy team in terms of calling around and looking for help at the center, but obviously, that need for help is a double down now because of Jack Hughes’s injury. They’ve already called Carolina, for example, and said, Hey, if you’re doing something with (Mikko) Rantanen and by Friday in terms of flipping him, let us know. I’m not sure Carolina wants to deal them to their team that might play in the first round, but it’s an example of the eagerness and the way Tom Fitzgerald may approach this deadline over the next three days here.
Now, the Devils will have to give up a lot to get Rantanen. Carolina is not going to want to hand him over, with the possibility of seeing him for the next seven to nine seasons if he signs an extension with the Devils. But the trade parts would include Simon Nemec, Dawson Mercer, a first-round pick, and maybe more, considering what the Hurricanes gave up for Rantanen.
NHL Rumors: Tom Fitzgerald Looking To Add Depth to New Jersey Devils Roster
Remember the Hurricanes sent Martin Necas and Jack Drury to the Colorado Avalanche as part of a trade package to get Rantanen. So, the Hurricanes will look to fleece the Devils if they trade for him from Carolina. But Rantanen is exactly the type of player that will help Hughes and Jesper Bratt especially given the way the Devils play under head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Will the Devils Have the Cap Space To Make Moves?
According to PuckPedia.com, the Devils currently have $1,874,739 in cap space. If they don’t make any other moves, the deadline cap space will be $1,964,013. However, that increases to $5,127,231 if they enter LTIR status. As of now, as they wait on Hughes, the Devils are not operating as if they have that extra money. But that could change, as LeBrun stated on Insider Trading.
Now, as of Tuesday, the Devils were not operating as though they were using the $8 million cap hit from Jack Hughes. And the reason for that is they needed more medical clarity on his situation exactly, more tests were on tap in the next 24 hours, but also potentially a decision to be made, does he need surgery or not? All of that could affect Jack Hughes timeline. The bottom line is, the news does not sound good, and the Devils need to go out and get help. But whether or not they have $8 million or not available to them by the deadline will be decided over the next few days. They were already a team that called on Jake Evans, for example, who’s no longer on the market, from Brock Nelson on down, the Devils, I think, will be inquiring.
But with the needs the Devils have, they will need the money to add. They did not do this last year when Dougie Hamilton was lost for the season. But the Devils need depth at center, a scoring winger, and depth on defense. That money for Hughes’s cap hit could come in handy. Again, it is a long shot to get Mikko Rantanen, but having Hughes on LTIR would make it easier.
