The New Jersey Devils offence has hit a wall. They are struggling to score goals with Jack Hughes out of the lineup. The Devils have needed another scoring punch or two since Tyler Toffoli departed. They have never replaced his production; instead, they have focused on depth scoring because they believed the offence would always be there.
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However, you have heard their general manager and coach say that scoring goals is one of the hardest things to do in the NHL. So the New Jersey Devils have been looking. Not only at the center position, but in other areas to boost their offensive output. Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic reported the Devils have been linked once again to Steven Stamkos of the Nashville Predators.
In addition to Stamkos, the Devils are also linked to Jonathan Marchessault, Ryan O’Reilly, Brayden Schenn, and others. Does Tom Fitzgerald want to pay a price to get those people and make those tough decisions?
As Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period stated when he joined NHL Network on Friday and was asked about the New Jersey Devils looking to add another piece or two, the Devils need help cap-wise if they look to acquire a player like Stamkos or Marchessault.
DevilsNation.com Transcriptions
Mike Rupp: “Hey, Dave, what about around here? These neck of the woods Devils fans are like, we need some help. We need something going on here. Have you heard anything on the Devils front as far as just, are they looking for any help?
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Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, Rupper, they are, and Tom Fitzgerald is looking around. And it’s not just that this hasn’t been knee-jerk because of not having Jack Hughes in the lineup. Even before this, they’ve been kind of scoping things out and seeing what options might be available to them later on in the season.
This is another team that would like to add a little bit extra to this lineup, but it’s not exclusive to the offense. They’re looking for guys with jam and some guys that could perhaps play a multi-faceted game. They’ve been connected to some players, and about a month ago, started to hear that Steven Stamkos might be on their radar. I do believe that’s the case.
I do believe there’s some internal, at the very least, interest on guys like Stamkos. Guys like (Jonathan) Marchessault also out of, out of Nashville. Ryan O’Reilly as well. I anticipate this team and Tom Fitzgerald looking around to see what options in that regard are going to be available. And I’ll throw Brayden Schenn out there as well, out of St Louis. And also just trying to figure out what the price tags are and what they may potentially be.
I think with a guy like Stamkos goes, in Nashville, I believe there’s a willingness for Nashville to move him, and I think there’s a willingness on his part to waive his no movement clause for a sure, clear-cut contender. I think you mentioned earlier, before the break that they’ve, that you’ve got New Jersey as going to the final, and I have them to at the start of the season. They’d like to add to that. They want to pad that. And I expect them to be active.
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Now, with respect to Stamkos, if they do do anything, Nashville is going to have to retain, and it’s really going to come down to how much the Predators are willing to eat on that deal, $8 million cap hit. I don’t see a scenario where the Devils pick up the full pop or another team, for that matter. But wherever he may end up, Nashville is going to have to eat on it.
The Devils are certainly looking around, lurking, seeing what big fish may be available. But at the same time, a former Devil like Blake Coleman in Calgary could be a fit later on, too.”
It will be interesting to see what the New Jersey Devils do. Every year, they are linked to a big fish but can never close the deal.
