The New Jersey Devils are running out of time to fix what’s been an ongoing issue—scoring.
It’s not a lack of effort. It’s not a failure to control possession. It’s not even about creating chances.
They do all of that.
They’re missing the goals that change games—the ones that punish mistakes, silence opposing crowds, and tilt momentum when it matters most.
Right now, they aren’t finishing, and that’s a dangerous trend for a team with playoff aspirations.
If they don’t correct it soon, their grip on a postseason spot could slip faster than they’d like to admit.
Yet, here they are, a couple of weeks from the NHL trade deadline, still searching for answers, still looking for someone who can step up.
Tom Fitzgerald has a decision in front of him.
Does he go after a big-name scorer like Kyle Palmieri, Brock Nelson, or Jake Evans, knowing the cost will be steep?
Or look for a more affordable option, a veteran who might not be at the peak of his career but still has something left to offer?
That’s where Vladimir Tarasenko becomes a real possibility.
Now, let’s not kid ourselves—Tarasenko isn’t the player he was in his prime with the St. Louis Blues.
He’s not the dynamic, game-breaking sniper who used to strike fear in goaltenders every time he got the puck on his stick.
That version of Tarasenko was a perennial 30-goal scorer, a Stanley Cup champion, a guy who could take over games on his own.
Although the current version is on his fifth team in three years, he struggles to find stability and puts up the worst offensive numbers of his career.
Just 22 points in 53 games this season with Detroit.
Thirty-four giveaways, making him a defensive liability at times.
The fit with the Red Wings hasn’t been great, and it’s clear that both sides would probably benefit from moving on.
So why should the Devils take a chance on him?
Because sometimes, all a player needs is the right environment.
It wasn’t long ago that Tarasenko was helping the Florida Panthers win a Stanley Cup.
Before that, he was a late-season addition to the New York Rangers, where he looked like he still had some of that old spark.
He could have signed with the Devils in the 2023 offseason but went to Ottawa instead.
That move didn’t last long, as he was shipped to Florida, where he found a role in a deep lineup.
Then came Detroit, where things haven’t worked out, and now, he might be on the move again.
If the Devils were to acquire him, he wouldn’t need to be the top option or even the second.
He wouldn’t be expected to carry the offense or be the main triggerman.
His role would be different—he would support the core, provide depth scoring, and take pressure off younger players when things aren’t clicking.
A third- or fourth-line spot, with some power-play minutes, might be exactly what he needs to find some consistency again.
And from the Devils’ perspective, getting him wouldn’t cost much.
A fourth- or sixth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft would probably be enough to make the deal happen.
For a team looking to secure its place in the playoffs and make a deep run, that’s a low-risk move with potential upside.
Meanwhile, the Devils just put together one of their best performances in weeks, completely dismantling the Nashville Predators in a 5-0 win.
Nico Daws was perfect between the pipes, stopping all 29 shots he faced for his first career shutout.
It was a historic night for Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat, who reached the 500-point mark—on the same goal, no less.
That’s the kind of stat that makes hockey history buffs take notice.
Palat’s goal, which came off a perfect feed from Luke Hughes, set the tone for the night, and the Devils never looked back.
Seamus Casey, back in the lineup for the first time since October 19, added a goal just minutes after Hamilton extended the lead.
In the third period, Stefan Noesen converted on a power play, and Tomas Tatar put the finishing touches on the victory.
Nico Hischier, returning from injury, contributed three assists, while Jesper Bratt extended his assist streak to ten games, breaking the previous franchise record held by Petr Sykora.
The Predators never really had a chance.
Even when rookie Fedor Svechkov thought he had put his team on the board, an offside review erased the goal, and that was the closest Nashville got to making it a contest.
It was a game the Devils needed, a reminder of what they’re capable of when everything clicks.
But that’s been the issue this season—consistency.
They’ve had nights like this before, only to follow them up with frustrating, low-energy performances where the scoring dries up again.
That’s why the trade deadline matters and, let’s face it, why Fitzgerald has to make sure this team is as strong as possible heading into the final stretch.
Tarasenko isn’t a game-changing acquisition.
He isn’t the type of player who will instantly transform a team’s offense.
But for the right price, in the right role, with the right expectations?
He could be exactly what the Devils need to solidify their depth and give them a reliable secondary scoring option heading into the playoffs.
So now the question is, does Fitzgerald make the move, knowing it might be one of the last tweaks this roster needs?
Or does he pass, hoping the Devils can figure things out internally and risk looking back in a few months wondering if a small gamble could have made a big difference?
Because make no mistake—this is a season that can’t afford to be wasted.
