Three potential trade partners for the Devils at the deadline
These teams could be matches for the Devils leading up to March 6th.
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Barring a miracle run exiting the Olympic break, the New Jersey Devils will miss the playoffs.
They are nine points back of a spot and would need to leapfrog seven teams to grab one. Moneypuck gives them a 2.4% chance of doing so. Not impossible – but very close.
That means the Devils will likely be sellers at the deadline. I don’t expect a firesale but it makes sense to get what they can for expirings (UFA Evgenii Dadonov, RFA Paul Cotter, etc.) and explore the market for their surplus of defense-first defenders.
Jonas Siegenthaler would likely fetch the best return but, given his age and shorter-term contract, Brenden Dillon is perhaps most likely to go – if he’s willing to waive his NTC.
There’s also the possibility Dougie Hamilton is traded, although I wouldn’t be surprised if that waits until the summer.
At any rate, let’s take a look at a few potential trade partners the Devils could collaborate with prior to March 6th.
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres could very much use some help on the left side of their defense.
Bowen Byram gives them real juice offensively but the Sabres bleed high-danger chances during his minutes.
Lindy Ruff also lacks an LD3 he can trust, with both Jacob Bryson and Zach Metsa averaging fewer than 10 minutes per night at 5v5.
Mattias Samuelsson is the only LD that the coaching staff can lean on in defensive situations. The Sabres need to change that heading into what they hope will be their first playoff appearance since 2010-11.
Dillon could make sense for them. His even-strength defensive impact (0.41 WAR) is greater than every Sabres blueliner. He has managed that while playing more than 15 minutes per night at 5v5.
He’d be a clear upgrade and fit for them if interested in being a part of their rejuvenation.
If the Sabres wanted to pay a premium, Siegenthaler would also make sense. He consistently posts high-end EVD impacts and Lindy Ruff knows Siegenthaler very well from his time in New Jersey.
