Three bargain bin options for the New Jersey Devils to consider
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Free agent frenzy has come and gone.
Only a few notables remain on the market, and said notables – Zach Parise, Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, etc. – are all but officially accounted for. Very discreet, Lou!
While there are no more difference makers available, there are some solid depth pieces who can help round out rosters.
Today, I’m going to look at three players who could, or should, be of interest to the New Jersey Devils.
C - Mark Jankowski
Former Calgary Flames GM Jay Feaster shockingly spent the 21st overall pick on Jankowski in 2012, suggesting he was one of the most talented players in his class; if not the most.
That didn’t exactly prove true, however, Jankowski is carving out a nice career for himself as a depth player in the NHL.
Even after consecutive dry seasons, he has averaged 13 goals per 82 games for his career. That comes on the back of plus shooting; he has shot above 10% in all four NHL seasons. He just didn’t shoot as often over the last couple years.
Nevertheless, Jankowski has established himself as an above average finisher. You always want players like that on your team; especially when they’re also competent defensively.
Jankowski’s even-strength defense has been worth +5.4 GAR over the last four seasons, and he’s finished a plus in that regard three times. His GAR while killing penalties has been positive in all four seasons.
So, you’re looking at a strong bottom-6 finisher who can handle himself defensively at 5v5; and excel defensively while shorthanded.
He can take some of the dirty work, leaving easier assignments for Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. His presence would also allow Pavel Zacha to primarily play wing without spreading the team thin down the middle.
Jankowski is by far my favorite free agent target for New Jersey. Put simply, he is a very useful player at a premium position.
LD - Ben Hutton
Unlike Jankowski, Hutton is a player I like more as a PTO candidate; rather than somebody I’d be racing to sign.
He’s coming off a pretty underwhelming season with the Anaheim Ducks, where he was worth -4.4 GAR.
The season prior, though, he posted a GAR of +6.6 with the Los Angeles Kings. There is a useful player in there somewhere.
Despite the ups and downs in his overall game, the one constant is his penalty killing. He’s been worth at least +0.9 GAR in penalty killing situations each of the last four seasons.
Theoretically, Hutton would be the No. 7 or No. 8 defender on the Devils. He wouldn’t be asked to play regularly.
The hope would be that he could hold his own in limited minutes on the 3rd pairing and, ideally, kill penalties.
Ty Smith is not only the lone LD unable to kill penalties; he’s the lone defender in NJ’s lineup unable to kill penalties. If Hutton is stepping in for someone, his penalty killing prowess would likely be needed.
I’d give him a look in camp and if he shows well, he’d get a contract and slot ahead of Christian Jaros – at least for me – as the 7th man.
LD - Jordie Benn
A lot of what I said about Hutton can apply to Benn.
He’s not going to be a difference maker at even-strength. He’s not going to create a ton of offense or rush the puck up ice. He’s not going to drive play.
What he brings is, for the most part, solid in-zone defense. He’s one of those guys who will battle in the corners and eat pucks any chance he can to prevent chances.
He is limited as a player, however, there’s reason to believe he’s still capable of handling himself in a 3rd pairing role.
Benn, like Hutton, is particularly good at killing penalties. His shorthanded play has been worth +4.2 GAR over the last three seasons; pretty good!
The Devils currently have a clear top-6, and they seem set on giving Jaros a look as the next man up.
Graves - Hamilton
Smith - Severson
Siegenthaler - Subban
Jaros (RD)
They don’t really have that clear guy in waiting on the left side (don’t say Kevin Bahl!). and Benn seems like a solid candidate to be that guy.
numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com and Architecte-Hockey.com
If not jankowski, who else would you be ok with the devils signing for the 3C spot? I agree he is the best available option there at this point. Beyond that there’s Bozak, Zajac if he doesn’t sign in Long Island, or an in house option like Boqvist (which I am not for). Brassard just signed a cheap one year deal in Philly for a 3C role. I know he has been declining but would you have considered him?
Great write up Todd. Do you not think Siegenthaler would be able to kill penalties? I agree that Graves can’t be the only LD to take PK shifts but I thought Siegenthaler was also capable of killing penalties.