Talking trade targets

A couple of prominent names, who would address needs for the Devils, popped up on DailyFaceoff's first trade board of the off-season.

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It’s that time of year.

With just four teams still playing hockey – a number that could be cut in half as early as Thursday – off-season mode will soon kick into high gear. Fireworks are just around the corner.

Although there’s a difference between gauging the market for a player and actually pulling the trigger on a trade, there are plenty of prominent names rumored to be available this summer.

Frank Seravalli of DailyFaceoff released his first trade target board and a couple of players should be of particular interest to the New Jersey Devils.

LW - JJ Peterka (23-year-old RFA)
CapWages projected contract: 7 x $7.7 million

Excerpt via DailyFaceoff: There may be no better player available, period, on the trade market this summer – let alone one of Peterka’s age at 23, already a top-line producer. Embattled Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has said publicly that he has no designs on trading Peterka, but the sense is a change of scenery is in order. Multiple teams put together significant offers for Peterka in the days leading up to the March deadline, but Buffalo was not biting then. They may have less choice now with a potential offer sheet waiting on the other end of July 1.

It would take some cap gymnastics but if Peterka is truly available, he’s worth pursuing.

Peterka has quickly established himself as one of the better finishers in the league. He’s scored at least 27 goals in back-to-back seasons and the heavy lifting was done at 5v5.

Peterka’s 41 goals in that state were the 14th most over the last two seasons. I repeat, 14th most.

He topped Leon Draisaitl, Sam Reinhart, Mikko Rantanen, Connor McDavid and many of the NHL’s best players in that span.

Nico Hischier (37) was the lone Devil within striking distance of Peterka. Beyond the captain, Timo Meier (31) is the only other player on the team who topped 30.

Peterka isn’t just a goal scorer, though. He’s also a dangerous in-zone passer who sees the ice well and can make a good seam pass to create quality looks.

This past season, he was near the top of the league in terms of chance assists and high-danger passes.

Whether shooting or creating for others, Peterka facilitates a ton of offense. That’s why the Sabres – who ranked 26th in points percentage from 2023-25 – were able to outscore opponents by 25 goals during his 5v5 minutes.

In terms of WAR, Peterka’s per 82-game output the past two years would slot him below on Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier among Devils.

He’s a helluva player worth Dawson Mercer, Seamus Casey, prospects, draft capital, and whatever combination it’d take to land in a trade.

C - Marco Rossi (23-year-old RFA)
CapWages projected contract: 7 x $7.3 million