Rob Niedermaier
written by- #TheMadBratter
With the injury to Dougie Hamilton leaving a massive hole in New Jersey’s defensive core. These are 5 trade targets the Devils should consider going after.
Chris Tanev: 33 year old RHD from Calgary. Tanev would a pure rental with only a year at 4.5 mil. While he is the best option available to fill the hole left by Hamilton, he’d be the most expensive option I have targeted for the Defense. A Tanev trade would take a lot of NJ’s remaining prospects and picks.
Dante Fabbro: 25 year old RHD from Nashville. The 25 year old Defenseman could be a good long term option for NJ. Bring only 25 the young blueliner would still an RFA after his deal ends this season NJ could have some flexibility to resign him to a similar price point to what he’s making right now at 2.5 million aav. While not as exciting as Tanev, Fabbro would be a defensively sound option on a cheap contract for the rest of the season and beyond.
Kevin Lankinen: 28 year old Goalie from Nashville. The Finnish Goalie Lankinen wouldn’t exactly be a flashy option in net but he’d provide stability and sound play for an NJ team that needs consistent goaltending. The Devils netminding hasn’t had much consistency in net this year and a guy like Lankinen would be a consistent Goalie with the right defense in front of him as proven in Nashville. At only 2 mil for this season Kevin Lankinen could be a pure rental and worse case could just leave him unsigned after the sign if he doesn’t work out in NJ.
Cayden Primeau: 24 year old Goalie from Montréal. The young American Goalie would be a match made in heaven for New Jersey. At only 24 Primeau could be the long term guy in a tandem with Akira Schmid in NJ. He has an deal that expires after this year at a cap hit of only 890k. The cheapest of any option listed Montréal isn’t going to give up Primeau for cheap. If NJ General Manager Tom Fitzgerald is willing to spend assets Primeau would be an interesting player to acquire.
Adam Henrique: 33 year old Center from Anaheim. A reunion in NJ for former Devil Adam Henrique would be an interesting opportunity for him to attempt to get a cup in the place he called home from 2011-2017. The New Jersey fans still love Henrique and would love to have Rico back playing in a bottom 6 role. On an expiring deal for 5.825 million, Henrique is the most expensive option on the list but Anaheim seems willing to trade him so maybe they’d be willing to retain some salary on the once Devil to facilitate a return to the Garden State for Rico
Bradon Kelliher-Lisson