New Jersey Devils fans have been bracing for the inevitable. The inevitable in that the Devils are way out of contention for a playoff spot for the ninth time in 10 seasons. As the March 21 trade deadline approaches, several players on the current Devils roster could see themselves in newer – and better – cities where they might extend their season. All that being said, here are several New Jersey Devils who could be on the move come trade deadline time.
Tomas Tatar
The first of the New Jersey Devils who could become a solid acquisition before the trade deadline is forward Tomas Tatar. The Czech veteran signed a two-year contract with the Devils in August to add some much-needed scoring depth. The hope was that he could benefit from playing with fellow Czech Pavel Zacha (more on him later). However, that has not been the case. Tatar has only nine goals in 49 games with the Devils, a drastic drop from the 25-goal season he had with Montreal three seasons ago. But the forward carries a $4.5M cap hit, which the Devils will probably carry half. Tatar could benefit from a team where he could experience a true rejuvenation.
Pavel Zacha
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The sixth-overall pick of the 2016 draft is another player that the New Jersey Devils could shop as the trade deadline approaches. Zacha led the team in scoring in the truncated 2021 season and was poised to be a key contributor as a top six forward. The Czech played well to start the season, but struggled mightily in December and January. He’s been linked in trade rumors to be sent to Vancouver which would send either J.T. Miller, Brock Boeser, or Conor Garland in return. While Devils fans hoped Zacha would figure in their long-term plans, the team tied up too much money in other players to make that happen. His cap hit is only $2.5M.
P.K. Subban
One of two New Jersey Devils defenseman who could be shipped on or before the trade deadline is P.K. Subban. The 32-year old is enjoying a better season than many expected, contributing with 3 goals and 15 assists. He’s also a -9, which is an improvement from the -16 and -21 the past two season. Subban is averaging less than 20 minutes of ice time (19:26), a vast drop from his days past as a top-two defenseman. The former Norris Trophy winner carries a heavy price tag: $9M. However, he also carries one of the heaviest shots in the NHL. Subban is an unrestricted free agent after this season, so flipping him wouldn’t hurt the Devils in the long-term.
Damon Severson
The final member of the New Jersey Devils who could depart before or at the trade deadline is Damon Severson. The 27-year old defenseman has been with New Jersey since the 2014-15 season and is the longest tenured Devil. The 2021-22 season has seen something of a renaissance for Severson, who is having one of the best campaigns offensively. He’s only nine points away from tying his career high in 2018-19 when he scored 39 points. Severson carries a cap hit of just over $5M, so a team looking for defensive depth could benefit from making the Devils a trade deadline partner.
