The New Jersey Devils forward group is not the biggest. While Nico Hischier at the first line center position can play a big game, their forward group, especially in their top six, is relatively small. Looking at Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes (out of the lineup), and Dawson Mercer, compared to other contending teams, it is more finesse than physicality.
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That is why Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald remains on the hunt for players that bring a little sandpaper and grit to the lineup. That has been the consensus among the media for a couple of years now. Besides adding that grit, the Devils still need another center, plus a top-six scoring winger.
But the priority for the Devils, as Anthony Di Marco of the Daily Faceoff confirmed on TSN Radio in Montreal on Monday, is that New Jersey is looking for that depth center, and Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn are the perfect fits.
Yeah I think that they have been looking for a depth centerman for quite some time. I spoke to a New Jersey source about a month ago, and they told me that they were looking for a 3C behind Nico Hischier eventually, when Jack Hughes does return from injury, I think you also look at maybe on the back end, if they could improve at some point.
I think they want some toughness and physicality. Like that’s a team that is very highly skilled with the like Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and whatnot. But I think if they could find some kind of sandpaper there to compliment those skilled guys, it go a long way.
Like for me, I honestly think Brayden Schenn, Ryan O’Reilly, would be perfect there, because they’ve checked two boxes. It kill two birds with one stone. You get a tough sandpaper guy who can kind of move up and down the lineup, but what is also a perfect 3C to play behind the likes of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.
We know the Devils were linked and had trade discussions with the St. Louis Blues about Schenn and the Nashville Predators O’Reilly dating back to last season. The price tag was high for both players back then and remains high now. The going rate for O’Reilly is a top prospect or player and a first-round pick.
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These GMs want to get value for players that have control over where they want to go, so that is what Predators GM Barry Trotz and Blues GM Doug Armstrong are doing. So, no matter who the New Jersey Devils trade for, they are going to have to make tough decisions on the roster.
As for Steven Stamkos, like many, Di Marco thinks it is more of the same as what they have now, and they want to get bigger.
“See that for me (Stamkos) doesn’t make sense for New Jersey. I just think it’s kind of more of the same there. I don’t think Stamkos is a centerman at this point in time,” Di Marco said. “I think it would work like Jack Hughes, with Steven Stamkos would go a long way for them. But I just, based on what I’ve heard about what New Jersey is looking for, I just don’t quite think that that fits the bill.”
How Will the New Jersey Devils Handle the Center Position Moving Forward?
That will not be the only area the New Jersey Devils will want to improve. Obviously, they are looking into adding Quinn Hughes, if they can. Though their defence is pretty good when healthy, they still need NHL-calibre depth defencemen to get them through injuries. However, adding Quinn Hughes would make the team better. What would they have to give up to get him?
The New Jersey Devils are active and will remain active. However, they are not going to make any panic moves. Not yet. You have to wonder if the General Manager wants to see what his team looks like fully healthy before he decides to tweak anything. But Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn are on his radar.
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