Rumors

Devils Rumors: A Top Six Winger Will Cost the New Jersey Devils a Hefty Price

Jim Biringer
Jim Biringer
9 Min Read
It's no secret the New Jersey Devils could use a top-six winger. The cost to acquire one wouldn't be cheap.
Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Which Top Six Winger Makes the Most Sense for New Jersey?

All the talk this offseason for the New Jersey Devils has been about depth scoring. But while depth scoring is a vital tool to have in a toolbox for an NHL team to win the Stanley Cup, having goal scoring period is the most essential tool. The Devils have neither. New Jersey has been desperately looking for a top-six scoring winger ever since it traded away Tyler Toffoli at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.

The Devils have not been able to replace his production, and that scoring presence could be the missing piece that puts them over the top and into contender status. However, securing that top-six scoring winger has not only been tricky but also costly. And the reason these players are so expensive is that top-six scoring wingers don’t grow on trees.

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As DevilsNation.com has documented, the need for a scoring winger dates back to last offseason. We all know what Devils President and GM Tom Fitzgerald said about the offense being there. But the issue was that the offence wasn’t there. He said he wasn’t trading Tyler Toffoli for nothing, and well, Toffoli was traded away for nothing to the Winnipeg Jets, a place he did not want to be.

So things have to be taken with a grain of salt when it comes to what the general manager says. But Fitzgerald understands his team needs offence, but as previously mentioned, it is going to come with a cost. That cost could be Dawson Mercer, Seamus Casey or Simon Nemec, and picks.

There are several options out there, but the Devils have had no luck finding a suitor to trade with. As NHLRumors.com documented via Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, who looked at four feasible options with one very long shot option. That long shot is Toffoli. As documented, the Devils were in contract talks with Toffoli. However, the Devils did not want to give him the term, dollar amount, and trade protection he was looking for as an aging player.

Considering he was traded to the Winnipeg Jets, it is unlikely a reunion will come. Plus, why would he want to leave the San Jose Sharks, where he is playing with Macklin Celebrini? Oh yeah, he has this thing called trade protection. So the Sharks aren’t moving him.

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As for the others on the list, which include Jordan Kyrou of the St. Louis Blues, Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Jared McCann of the Seattle Kraken, the Devils asked but could not get those players from those respective teams.

Rickard Rakell – Pittsburgh Penguins

As DevilsNation.com documented during the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, the Devils tried to get Rakell from the Pittsburgh Penguins, but they found the asking price was way too high. It was going to cost them three to four pieces. Remember, the Penguins are in the same division as the Devils, so why would Penguins GM Kyle Dubas want to help out the Devils? The in-division asking price is always higher. He is a consistent goal scorer. Three years left at $5 million, and the Devils will have plenty of competition to get Rakell if the Penguins aren’t a playoff team.

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Jared McCann – Seattle Kraken

Another target the Devils could have gotten in the offseason was Jared McCann. However, as documented on DevilsNation.com and NHLRumors.com, the Seattle Kraken told the Devils no about trading McCann. He has two years left at $5 million. That is a cheap cap hit for a guy who can average 30 goals and 30 assists a season. Again, the Devils need to clear cap space to make this deal happen, and most likely going back in a potential deal would be Dawson Mercer, one of their young defenseman, and another piece.

Jordan Kyrou – St. Louis Blues

A big myth this offseason was that the St. Louis Blues wanted to trade Jordan Kyrou. He was available even at the trade deadline, but the asking prices were high. But if the Blues were so motivated to move him, wouldn’t they have done that before July 1, when Kyrou’s no-movement clause kicked in? Now Kyrou has control of where he wants to go. Remember, Blues GM Doug Armstrong has a habit of bluffing to get the best out of his players.

Jason Robertson – Dallas Stars

Obviously, the New Jersey Devils could use Jason Robertson. He is eligible for an extension from the Dallas Stars, and things seem to be on hold for now until they get to the market Robertson wants. Not to mention, is Stars GM Jim Nill willing to pay Robertson over $10 million? But the package would cost the Devils at least three pieces, which include a roster player, a prospect, and picks.

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And as DevilsNation.com and NHLRumors.com have documented, Dougie Hamilton is linked to Dallas in this scenario. But how wise it is to add goal scoring and weaken an area of strength. Trying to outscore your defensive problems is not the best idea, especially at the expense of a player like Dougie Hamilton.

If you’re looking at it from a New Jersey Devils perspective, there are not many options out there. As Fitzgerald said, tough decisions will have to be made. One of those tough decisions may involve a piece of the corps to address a specific area of need.

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