New Jersey Devils: 5 players they should trade this season
It’s clear the New Jersey Devils need to trade a few players to make their future brighter. Which players should they move?
After making numerous offseason moves, the New Jersey Devils were expected to at least be in the running for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, a slow start has derailed that idea, and trying to win now was perhaps a route they shouldn’t have taken in the first place.
The Devils are currently much closer to the bottom of the NHL standings than they are to a spot in the postseason. As of Dec. 5, they are 11 points out of the second wild-card spot. No team since the restructuring of the divisions has been 11 points out on Dec. 5 and made the playoffs.
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It would take nothing short of a minor miracle for the Devils to make the playoffs at this point. They have 22 points through their first 27 games, which is roughly a 67 point pace over 82 games. 95 points is a pretty consistent benchmark for making the playoffs. In order to get to 95 points, the Devils must pick up 73 of the remaining 110 points available. That’s roughly a 109 point pace over 82 games.
To put this in context, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the only team to get at least 109 points last season (though the Calgary Flames and Boston Bruins both had 107 points). Making the playoffs is not impossible, but time is quickly running out. The Devils seem to realize that, as Elliotte Friedman noted in his latest 31 Thoughts column that general manager Ray Shero has put Taylor Hall on the trading block.
There’s no sense in trying to save this season. The Devils must bite the bullet and start listening to offers for just about anyone on their roster. Obviously, Hischier, Hughes, Damon Severson, and their top prospects should be off the table. Here are five players they need to move on from.
5. Andy Greene
Years Left: 1 (expires after 2019-20)*
Cap hit: $5 million
*has a no-trade clause
The Devils need to shake things up. Team captain Andy Greene, a 37-year-old defenseman, could be on the trading block. Of course, there’s the issue of talking him into waiving his no-trade clause. Greene has been a darn good soldier for the Devils, leading them for years.
He’s had a heck of a career for an undrafted defenseman, as he’s in his 14th season. Greene’s no longer a great defenseman, but he can still kill penalties and hold down a third-pairing role. In a pinch, he might even be able to fill in on the second pairing.