The New Jersey Devils want to be active at the NHL Trade Deadline. As it has been documented, they’re on the lookout for a middle. In addition they wanted so as to add depth within the backside six, as their present choices aren’t the proper ones.
Whereas Devils President and GM Tom Fitzgerald addressed wants on the deadline, there was a evident gap within the high six and on protection. To make issues worse, Jack Hughes was injured towards the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday Night time.
Jack Hughes went exhausting into the boards. Good to see Eichel ensuring he was okay. Jack is holding his proper shoulder, arm, and wrist and heading down the tunnel. #NJDevils
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 3, 2025
Sheldon Keefe couldn’t present an replace after the sport, however Hughes did fly again to New Jersey for additional analysis. Keefe’s preliminary ideas on the damage had been that it was not good and that he could be evaluated.
Keefe stated no replace on Jack Hughes. Stated he must be evaluated to know the extent of the damage and stated it didn’t look good. #njdevils
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) March 3, 2025
Nevertheless, it seems the Devils desire a long-term resolution repair at heart as Fitzgerald appears to focus on gamers with time period left on their offers. However the value tags have been excessive.
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet on the Latest 32 Thoughts Podcast went via every workforce because the NHL Commerce Deadline approached. They received to the New Jersey Devils, and Friedman was requested about their plans. He confirmed the Devils are on the lookout for a middle however couldn’t verify if plans are altering due to Jack Hughes’s damage.
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
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Kyle Bukauskas: “The Jersey Devils Elliotte. I imply, they’ve had a agency grip on a playoff spot all season lengthy. They’re one other workforce we’ve mentioned it, Elliotte that I’m positive would like to get just a little heavier, just a little meaner. Is that type of what Tom Fitzgerald is taking a look at including if they’re to do something earlier than the deadline?”
Elliotte Friedman: “There’s no good solution to say it. You sit right here, you’re watching the video games on Sunday night time. It’s the final recreation of the night, and , you’re the Devils at 0-0 in Vegas, powerful place to play. You assume you bought, would possibly, possibly received an opportunity to tug one out. After which not solely do you lose, however you see Jack Hughes going to the boards exhausting like that, and there’s no try and injure. I heard Eichel felt horrible about it after the sport.
However you’re sitting there and also you’re taking a look at that and also you’re going, oh geez, that appears horrible, and also you hope it’s not as unhealthy because it seems. Sheldon Keefe stated on the finish of the sport that we’re going to want a while to determine precisely what we’re coping with right here.
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And it’s a nightmare at any time of the 12 months, nevertheless it’s additionally a nightmare good earlier than the commerce deadline, the Devils, even earlier than that had occurred, had been on the lookout for a middle. They’d been fairly identified about that. They’d been very energetic. Tom Fitzgerald had been one of the vital energetic common managers. He was on the lookout for a middle. I feel he was additionally on the lookout for a defenseman. , you sit right here and also you take a look at it and, , I feel they had been one of many groups that poked round on Brayden Schenn, however didn’t like the worth.
And once you’ve already assume you’ve received a gap you’re making an attempt to repair in your lineup, and then you definitely see Jack Hughes, and together with Hischier, that’s their one-two punch down the center, you see one thing like that. Now unexpectedly, you need to fully alter. And as we tape the pod, I can’t actually reply it. It’s simply too late, however now you’re pondering, Okay, we’ve received an even bigger gap probably. How can we assault it? Are you able to assault it on this quick time period, or is it? Do you keep on with your plan, seeing what sort of heart you possibly can add, after which simply making an attempt to deal with it from there?
It’s a whole change of tempo and alter of technique right here, that I’ll be honest, I can’t totally handle when it occurs proper as we’re recording it. I don’t wish to guess about what the Devils might find yourself doing right here, however unexpectedly, the Devils are taking a look at it, and objects within the rear view mirror are nearer than they seem. The Blue Jackets have been sizzling. The factor that basically helps New Jersey is that lots of these groups which might be battling across the wild card aren’t from their division.
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The Rangers are round there, however lots of the opposite groups, Detroit, Montreal, Ottawa, after all, these are Atlantic Division groups that may’t go up via the Metro. In order that helps New Jersey a bit. However there’s no query, I didn’t assume the way in which they began, that we’d be taking a look at this on March third, and folks have crept up on the Devils, and now you need to take care of this along with (Jonas) Siegenthaler being out, too.
It’s simply absolutely the worst attainable factor on the worst attainable time.
With simply a number of days to the NHL Commerce Deadline, the Devils are an fascinating workforce with a number of choices they may execute.”
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