Devils Need To Find Their Anton Lundell
Finding the right third-line center should be the top priority for the New Jersey Devils this offseason.
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One of the New Jersey Devils' top needs this offseason will be finding a third-line center. They can't go into the 2025-26 season with Erik Haula or Dawson Mercer as their 3C, or otherwise, it'll be more of the same.
Unfortunately, because of Jack Hughes' injury concerns, their next third-line center can't just be a third-line center. They will need to target someone who can move up the lineup in a pinch, similar to what the Florida Panthers have with Anton Lundell.
Hughes' Injury Exposed Devils' Poor Center Depth
We saw what happened to the Devils this past season after Hughes injured his shoulder in a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in early March. They scraped together some gutsy wins to remain in a playoff spot, but the team struggled without Hughes.
The Devils totaled a 48.94 expected goals share (xG%) across their final 20 games, all without Hughes. Their offense sputtered, as they generated just 2.21 expected goals per 60 minutes.
Hughes was on pace for 90+ points at the time of his injury. He was a top 5-10 center in the NHL this season, making him nearly impossible to replace. Still, the Devils didn't have the necessary pieces to withstand that injury.
Haula picked up his game in Hughes' absence, totaling ten points in his final 17 games, but most of that came on the wing. Mercer filled in at center, but he lacks the play-driving ability to be a capable fill-in down the middle.
Cody Glass had some good moments, especially in the first few games he played for the Devils after they acquired him from the Pittsburgh Penguins. But he's closer to a fourth-line center and is unlikely to be the 3C solution.
That's why I expect the Devils to be aggressive in finding a third-line center who can move up the lineup if needed. Hughes has missed a combined 40 games over the last two seasons. As much as we hope that his shoulder injuries are behind him, it's something you have to factor into this offseason.
The Devils' front office may already have that thinking, too. Just look back at some of the players they targeted at the trade deadline. Ryan O'Reilly and Brayden Schenn finished with 50+ points this season and can move up to the second line if needed. And I expect some of these names to pop up again in the coming weeks.
Possible Trade Targets
I am vehemently against targeting Schenn because his contract screams Ondřej Palát 2.0. I'd be surprised if he's available anyway since the St. Louis Blues appear to have turned a corner and are trending toward sticking around in the playoff picture.
On the other hand, O'Reilly feels like he'll be a prime target for the Devils and general manager Tom Fitzgerald. He finished this season with 21 goals and 52 points and has two years left on his contract at a cap hit of $4.5 million. I wouldn't be shocked if the Devils revisited talks for him.
Elsewhere, is it time to right a wrong from the 2020 draft? By all accounts, it seems Marco Rossi will be available for trade this summer. He had a breakout season with the Minnesota Wild, finishing with 24 goals and 60 points, and is due for a new contract this summer.
Rossi is a long-term solution because of his age (23), and he can clearly play up the lineup if needed. I know he may only be 5-foot-9, but he plays bigger than his size. He's a good hockey player and fits what the Devils need at center.
Other players who could be of interest are Mason McTavish and Shane Pinto. Who knows if they're available now, but their names have been in the rumor mill before. They'll be top targets for the Devils if they're available for trade again.
Devils Should Avoid Free Agency If They Can
We'll see who else comes up in the rumor mill in the weeks ahead, but the trade route will likely be the best path for the Devils to upgrade their 3C needs. That's because this UFA class is asking for trouble.
Matt Duchene and Brock Nelson are among the best UFA centers, but they'll be expensive. Both players project to land deals with cap hits just north of $7 million, and they're both in their mid-30s.
Plus, Duchene just had one of the best seasons of his career, finishing with 30 goals and 82 points in 82 games. He probably won't sign with the Devils to be their third-line center. There'll be a bigger opportunity for him elsewhere.
The same argument applies to John Tavares, who was just over a point per game this season. He could be a low-end first-line, high-end 2C for another team if he doesn't remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While Sam Bennett fits what the Devils need, he seems primed for one of the worst UFA contracts this summer. With pundits speculating he could get $10 million annually (I'll believe it when I see it), that's a hard pass for the Devils.
The pickings get slim after Bennett if you're opting for a third-line center via free agency. Pius Suter is an option, but he's coming off a career year that he may not repeat, which may result in a free agency overpay. He's also not the fleetest of foot, and the Devils need to get faster this offseason.
Yanni Gourde would have made sense as a deadline rental for the Devils, but I'd be wary of signing him in free agency. He's showing signs of decline, and injuries have been a concern. There's too much risk there for the Devils.
Devils’ Top Priority Should Be a 3C
There are options to improve center depth this offseason, and I'm sure there are more we don't know of yet. But regardless, the Devils have to take Hughes' injury concerns into account.
We obviously hope those are behind him, but the Devils need a Lundell-type capable of 40-50 points who could move up the lineup if needed. It's their most pressing need this summer and would rectify many of the issues they had in 2024-25.
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