5 free agents the New Jersey Devils need to sign this offseason

5. Brayden Point

I know, Brayden Point isn’t a UFA. And yes, I realize nobody is signing anyone to an offer sheet because general managers are cowards. But hear me out.

Everyone’s talking about how Mitch Marner will have teams waiting to sign him to an offer sheet. This might be true, but the Maple Leafs are going to be able to match pretty much anything thrown at them. However, that’s not true about the Tampa Bay Lightning and Point.

If I were a general manager, he would be the guy I’d sign to an offer sheet. The Lightning have serious cap issues. They’ll only have about $10 million to sign Point and replace multiple players. Signing him to an offer sheet would put a ton of pressure on Tampa to clear cap space.

Point would give the Devils another extremely talented forward and would solidify their top six forward core. Hischier, Hall, Kyle Palmieri, Hughes, Point, and Blake Coleman is a group you can contend with.

Other options: The Devils would probably have to surrender four of their own first-round picks to put Point out of the Lightning’s matching range. This might be a bit too pricey, even for someone as talented as him. Timo Meier and Kevin Labanc are two cheaper options. Depending on what the San Jose Sharks do, one of those two guys could be available. The Devils should take advantage of them if they are.