The New Jersey Devils season has not gone according to plan. For a team that had high expectations entering the season and looking to take the next step, being a seller at the deadline was not part of the plan. In fact, the goal from the start of the season was to buy and add to this core group.
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However, instead of the tough decisions that should have been or at least deliberated in the offseason, as President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald said they would, they have not taken place. This is the same team that lost to the Carolina Hurricanes in Round One of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Outside of the bottom six, for which everyone knew those players weren’t coming back, nothing else changed.
And how can it with 13 players having some sort of trade protection? But maybe now is the time to look at this core and say, “This is what they are.” And how do we get them to the next step? Does that involve trading a core player that management thought would help them achieve their goal, and also filling a need at the same time?
Devils Radio Play-by-Play man Matt Loughlin joined Sirius XM NHL Network Radio on Wednesday and was asked what the plan for the New Jersey Devils is come the trade deadline?
DevilsNation.com Transcriptions
Were Expectations Too High for the New Jersey Devils This Season?
Gord Stellick: “So of course, trade deadline back at it is not that far away, so we’ll talk incessantly until it actually happens. So what are you expecting in New Jersey? First, Dougie Hamilton. Would your guess be that he’s there past trade deadline? Or what else will you describe Tom Fitzgerald’s philosophy and strategy?”
Matt Loughlin: “I think that there will be certainly changes made. I mean, most teams do make deals, or teams that are at least in the Devils position, trying to get a little boost, or maybe a major boost. I don’t think Dougie is going to be on the move.
Now we know the story, and we know the scratching, and he’s been playing much better since. I think, though, that the summertime is something to keep an eye on and see what happens after he gets his bonus and the money that’s left on the contract is not as daunting, et cetera, and he can kind of sort through some things. That’s just my guess, from what I see and hear and believe around the team.
But I think there will be some moves. I don’t know that they’ll fall into the major role. I just don’t know if that’s the case, but I wouldn’t be surprised either if Tom said okay, for a variety of reasons, this has not been the season we wanted, and I’m going to do a shake-up now that will lead to a shake-up during the off-season as well. In other words, maybe one of the more prominent names from the Devils, a player who maybe thinks, all right, I’m going to be part of the future, winds up seeing his future somewhere else. And that shakes up the room a little bit.
Trade Talks Have Cooled Involving Dougie Hamilton and the New Jersey Devils
And then in summer, he does a little bit, a little bit more major surgery. So I guess I’m kind of throwing all possibilities out there. ut I think, given where the Devils are, anything is possible. Just kind of all right, settle in, see what we got the rest of the way, and then regroup for the summer, or let’s start the rebuild, if you will, now, and make some moves that send messages.
So I would not be surprised if any scenario unfolds, but I do think Dougie will be with the team through the summer or into the summer.”
The Devils tried to move off Hamilton, but his 10-team trade list blocked a move to the San Jose Sharks. He is playing better, and with Johnathan Kovacevic struggling to come off that injury. The big thing with Hamilton is the money. The $7.4 million signing bonus is gone after July 1st. It is easier to move it once he is paid out.
We know Tom Fitzgerald expressed the idea of moving a future piece to add to the team. Does that imply a Dawson Mercer or Simon Nemec? He wants to add to the team, but adding Nick Bjugstad isn’t moving the needle.
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The process has begun in New Jersey with the Devils already dealing Ondrej Palat to the New York Islanders. Expectations are that Evgenii Dadonov, Luke Glendening, and Paul Cotter could be moved. At the first two. It remains to be seen on the rest. We know the asking price for some of the players out there was too high for Fitzgerald last season.
It is clear the Devils aren’t a playoff team, but if they are too sell or make changes with the core, will ownership allow the current management to make those changes?
