The New Jersey Devils are having a good season overall, but one big problem is that their bottom-six forwards aren’t scoring enough.
The Devils, currently in second place in the Metropolitan Division with a 24-15-3 record, have positioned themselves well. Still, their lack of depth scoring is a glaring weakness that could derail their playoff hopes.
With the NHL trade deadline approaching on March 7, the team has a prime opportunity to address this issue and strengthen their lineup for a serious postseason push.
And numbers don’t lie.
The Devils are on a four-game losing streak, where they only scored six goals during the stretch.
Erik Haula hasn’t scored in 18 straight games.
And Tomas Tatar has a grand total of one point in his last 14 games.
Nathan Bastian is in the same boat, with just one assist and no goals in his last 15.
Even Paul Cotter, who managed to score recently, only has three points in his last 23 games.
As evidenced here, it’s been rough.
General Manager Tom Fitzgerald knows this isn’t cutting it.
And a few weeks back, he openly called out the bottom six forwards, saying the team needed more production from them.
Unfortunately, nothing has changed since then.
With the playoffs approaching and the Metro Division race as tight as it is, it’s obvious the Devils can’t afford to stand still.
They desperately need reinforcements to address their depth-scoring issues and keep their postseason dreams alive.
On the plus side, several promising forwards are available, and the Devils should start seriously considering trade options.
One name that jumps out is Yanni Gourde from the Seattle Kraken.
Gourde has a $5.17 million cap hit, which means the Devils would have to get creative with their $1.53 million cap space to make it work.
Maybe they trade away a contract or ask Seattle to keep some of his salary.
Either way, Gourde could be worth it.
He’s not putting up the numbers he did with the Lightning, but he’s still got six goals and ten assists in 35 games this season.
Plus, all his goals have come at even strength, and that’s exactly what the Devils need.
Add in his two Stanley Cup wins and his reputation as a solid two-way player, and he could be a perfect fit for New Jersey’s third or fourth line.
That said, if Gourde’s price tag is too steep, his teammate Brandon Tanev might be a better option.
Tanev’s cap hit is $3.5 million, and he’s known for being a hard-hitting, gritty forward who doesn’t shy away from physical play.
He’s got seven goals and seven assists in 39 games this season, all at even strength.
He’s also racked up 84 hits and 63 blocked shots, which would probably be useful during the playoffs.
Tanev can play both wings and give the Devils some flexibility. And his playoff experience is a nice bonus.
Another interesting option is Ryan Donato from the Chicago Blackhawks.
With a cap hit of just $2 million, Donato could be an affordable addition.
The 28-year-old has one of the best seasons of his career, with 11 goals and 11 assists.
Even though he’s stuck on a struggling Blackhawks team, he’s managed to shine.
Adding Donato would bring some energy and skill to the Devils’ bottom six, and let’s face it—they could use both.
Then there’s Gustav Nyquist of the Nashville Predators.
But here’s the thing with Nyquist; he’s a bit of a wildcard.
He’s had a rough season so far, with only 16 points compared to 75 last year.
But he’s got a manageable $3.15 million cap hit and 77 games of playoff experience under his belt.
If the Devils think they can get him back to his old self, he might be worth the gamble.
A veteran presence like Nyquist could do wonders for their third line.
Luke Kunin from the San Jose Sharks is another name to keep in mind.
He’s having a breakout season with 10 goals in 42 games—all at even strength—and he’s not afraid to throw his weight around with 109 hits.
Kunin’s $2.75 million cap hit makes him a realistic option for the Devils.
Plus, at 27 years old, he’s young enough to stick around if things work out.
If they pick him up and he keeps producing, he could be valuable moving forward.
Nevertheless, the Devils are already stacked with talent at the top.
Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier have carried the offense all season.
But when opposing teams shut those guys down, the Devils have struggled to find other players who can step up.
Depth scoring isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity.
And Fitzgerald seems to understand that.
He was recently spotted at a San Jose Sharks game, which naturally sparked all kinds of trade rumors.
The Sharks have several players who could help, including Kunin and Mikael Granlund, who’s leading the team in scoring.
Granlund’s $5 million cap hit might be a bit tricky to handle, but he’s on an expiring contract, so it’s worth exploring.
The Blackhawks are another team to watch.
They’re clearly rebuilding, with a 13-25-2 record, so they will likely be sellers at the deadline.
One player the Devils could target is Craig Smith.
The 35-year-old forward has a super affordable $1 million cap hit and brings plenty of playoff experience to the table.
He’s not flashy, but he’s reliable, and his six goals and 11 points in 28 games this season show he can still contribute.
Smith could be a solid, low-risk addition to the Devils’ fourth line or as an extra forward.
At the end of the day, the Devils have to do something.
They’ve built a great team, but their lack of depth scoring is a glaring weakness that’s only becoming more obvious.
Whether it’s a veteran like Gourde or Nyquist, a grinder like Tanev, or a younger option like Donato or Kunin, the Devils have options.
Fitzgerald has some big decisions to make, but one thing’s for sure—standing still isn’t one of them.
The clock’s ticking, and it’s time to get to work.