Devils Pre-Draft Rumor Roundup: Robertson, Mercer & More
Rumor SZN is heating up. Here's a roundup of the latest rumors surrounding the New Jersey Devils ahead of the NHL Draft.
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We went weeks without notable New Jersey Devils rumors, but that's beginning to change with the NHL Draft taking place in two days. Yesterday, Pierre LeBrun reported a few Devils rumors, and more could come as the draft and free agency begin.
Among the notable tidbits were the Devils checking in on Jonathan Toews, keeping an eye on the Jason Robertson situation, and more. Let's get to it before the trade dominoes fall and moves begin occurring.
Devils Among 15 Teams Who Checked in on Toews
After nearly three years away from hockey, Jonathan Toews signed with his hometown Winnipeg Jets. I'm not sure why some Devils fans were upset over that since he was never going to choose the Devils over the Jets, and it's probably for the best.
The Devils and general manager Tom Fitzgerald were right to do their due diligence since they need to upgrade down the middle, but there's no guarantee Toews would have provided a boost.
Toews turned 37 in April and has been out of the game for a long time. Even before taking a break from the NHL to deal with health issues, he had been showing signs of decline. I doubt he'll suddenly turn back the clock and be an effective third-line center at 37, and even being an effective 4C is a question mark.
The Devils need more of a sure thing to upgrade at center, and Toews isn't that. They'd likely be better off finding a way to re-sign Cody Glass rather than taking a chance on Toews, but they were right to check in and gauge if there was any interest.
Keep an Eye on Robertson
Is Jason Robertson available? Is he not available? The Dallas Stars don't seem to be in a rush to make a decision, and I don't blame them. Even in a "down" year, he totaled 35 goals and 80 points, so they can play the long game and see how extension talks materialize over the offseason.
Robertson is a game-breaking talent that the Devils could certainly use in their top six. He's averaged 37 goals and 90 points per 82 games over the last three seasons and has outstanding impacts at five-on-five, so the Devils should absolutely keep a close eye on his situation.
Right now, the Devils are tight on cap space, so a Robertson trade might not be all that realistic. Even if they move Ondřej Palát's contract, they'd likely have to clear Dougie Hamilton's $9 million cap hit to fit in Robertson, but it's game on if they do.
Allen's Return Seems Unlikely
I wouldn't fully close the door on Jake Allen returning to the Devils yet, but it's looking less likely by the day. He's the clear top UFA netminder available this summer, and according to LeBrun, around seven to eight teams are interested in him.
LeBrun reported that Allen is looking to sign for around $4 million annually on a two-year deal or $3.5 million on a three-year contract. I don't see how the Devils can afford that, even if they move Hamilton's cap hit, since that likely happens if a Robertson trade becomes much more realistic.
On a related note, Frank Seravalli loosely linked Jacob Markström's former backup in Calgary, Dan Vladař, to the Devils. The Devils' front office seems to know that Allen will likely be too expensive to re-sign, so they're already looking at other options.
Vladař is a fine enough backup and some insurance in case Nico Daws disappoints and can't provide NHL-level goaltending. Either way, expect the Devils to make a depth addition in net.
Rust Trade Could Take Some Time to Materialize
I've talked plenty about Bryan Rust and how he'd be an excellent fit for the Devils, so there's no need to rehash that. LeBrun had an update on Rust, reporting that the Pittsburgh Penguins and GM Kyle Dubas are in no rush to trade him.
The reason is that the Penguins believe they can drive up an already high price for Rust even higher if teams don't accomplish what they need in the next 10-14 days. That would force them to circle back to the Penguins in early July.
That's fine, but I'd be wary of getting into a bidding war for a 33-year-old Bryan Rust. He's averaged 30 goals and 64 points per 82 games over the last three seasons, so there's no doubt he'd be an upgrade for the Devils, but you don't want to overpay for him.
Rust sure seems like a player the Devils would have serious interest in, so we'll see how this plays out. If it drags out too long, Fitzgerald could turn to other options on the trade market.
Marchand Linked to the Devils
Whether it's their trade board or UFA list, The Fourth Period connects players to different teams. Between the 70 players they have on their trade and UFA lists, the only one linked to the Devils is Brad Marchand.
Maybe we should take that with a grain of salt, but I imagine the chances of the Devils signing Marchand are slim. One) It now looks like he could stay with the Florida Panthers. Two) If he doesn't, I've never seen more of a Toronto Maple Leaf in my life.
Three) Marchand will likely ink a contract that will be a way too inefficient use of cap space for the Devils. Would signing him for four years and perhaps $8.5 million annually be wise, especially since he's 37? Probably not.
Mercer Remains on Sportsnet's Trade Board
The Devils already cleared Erik Haula's $3.15 million cap hit, but that's unlikely to be the only salary they shed this summer. There's obviously Palát, but Dawson Mercer could be trade bait, too.
Mercer remained on Nick Kypreos' updated trade board for Sportsnet, with Kypreos stating:
"Dawson Mercer appeared on my last trade list and remains there in our second look to the off-season. This is a player who will turn just 24 early next NHL season and is still full of potential, so there will be a market for him. But he's now two years removed from a 27-goal, 56-point breakout season and, after failing to hit the 20-goal plateau in 2024-25, he might be a player the Devils try and use to find a better roster fit."
That last sentence is key. The Devils won't cap dump Mercer because it doesn't make sense to trade a 24-year-old on a decent contract for pennies. But they shouldn't hesitate to move him if they get a proper upgrade.
One name I had my eye on at the trade deadline and still do is Seattle Kraken winger Jared McCann, who's begun reappearing on trade boards this week.
McCann has one of the best shots in the NHL, with his top shot speed ranking in the 99th percentile this past season. He has two years left on his contract at a cap hit of $5 million and is the type of shooting talent the Devils need.
He'd be a significant upgrade for the Devils' top six, and Sheldon Keefe coached him with the Soo Greyhounds in the OHL. It makes too much sense.
Could the Devils & Golden Knights Be Trade Partners?
There aren't rumors linking the Devils and Vegas Golden Knights yet, but that could change if they land Mitch Marner in free agency. Elliotte Friedman seems to think the Golden Knights are the team to beat for Marner, but they'd have to clear cap space to sign him.
There were reports that the Carolina Hurricanes were working on a trade for Tomas Hertl, but it appears those jumped the gun. If not Hertl, William Karlsson is someone Kypreos had on his trade board.
Karlsson has a somewhat pricey cap hit of $5.9 million for the next two years, but he'd be a perfect fit for the Devils as a third-line center if that's who the Golden Knights have to cap dump to free up space for Marner. It depends entirely on what Marner decides, but it's something to watch over the next few weeks.