Setting the table on trade deadline day

New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald did his heavy lifting in trading for Timo Meier. Does he have more up his sleeve?

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A few quick notes to set the table for the New Jersey Devils on deadline day:

• I don’t expect the Devils to move on from any of their pending unrestricted free agents. They have five notables and of the group, maybe two or three will be back next season. I get not wanting to lose multiple players for nothing but the Devils have a fantastic – and deep – core assembled with plenty of quality prospects coming behind them. The cupboards are stocked. There is no reason for Fitzgerald to feel like he needs to prioritize the future.

• If – and this is a huge if – something crazy comes up and Damon Severson is moved, I’d watch the Winnipeg Jets as the team to make the offer that turns Fitzgerald’s head. They’re looking for a top-4 puck mover who can chew up minutes and Severson classifies. He’s also a Western Canada kid who’d likely be open to sticking around long-term. If Fitzgerald were to move Severson, I expect he’d turn around and add another experienced right-handed defender while pocketing the surplus from the Severson return. But, again, this is unlikely. I’m led to believe Severson will stay put for the stretch run and walk away from the organization in July.

• I expect any shopping Tom Fitzgerald does will come from the bargain bin. The Devils have $1.26 million in deadline space, which isn’t a ton even if another team is willing to retain money. Taylor Raddysh (solid underlyings, size, cheap) and Dmitry Kulikov (competent in-zone defender, some playoff experience, familiar with the organization) are the type of players I could see Fitzgerald looking at. I don’t sense he wants to change all that much; and who can blame him?

• It’s worth noting that roster limits go out the window today. You can have more than 23 players on the team so long as you’re under the cap. So, even if the Devils add a depth piece, that doesn’t necessarily mean somebody has to be demoted or shipped out.