4 Trade Targets Listed for New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils, despite a stumble against the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday, are off to a red-hot start to the season, at 8-2-0, leading the Metropolitan Division. So far, particularly with the sizzling performance of Jack Hughes, along with the rest of their top forwards, the preseason need of a top-six boost has fallen by the wayside at this point.

But as noted by New Jersey Hockey Now's James Nichols, reinforcements will be needed at some point, and they're still looking for help at third-line center as well. With that, he proposes a list of four trade targets that the Devils should be keeping an eye on. Let's start with the top-six wish list:

Alex Tuch, Buffalo Sabres

Negotiations on an extension for the Sabres' star two-way forward have hit an impasse, as the numbers are soaring to "staggering" levels. His name has therefore been bandied about as a potential trade candidate if Buffalo just doesn't think it can afford to keep him.

Tuch would immediately ascend to the top line in New Jersey, replacing Ondrej Palat, "and give them a legitimate trio of players on the first line," writes Nichols.

Now on to the 3C options:

Blake Coleman, Calgary Flames

With all the talk about the Flames' dreadful start to the season, and the possibility of Nazem Kadri's availability via trade, Blake Coleman often flies under the radar. But as recently noted by insider David Pagnotta on the Rink Report podcast, a reunion with Coleman could be a nice idea for the Devils.

"If you can really stabilize your third unit... Then those are the kind of pieces that I would be looking at."

The 33-year-old Coleman, who began his career with 3+ seasons in New Jersey, would be a highly productive, two-way addition to the third line. He had two 20-goal seasons for the Devils, and popped 30 for the Flames just two years ago, all while maintaining his solid, defensive instincts.

Alex Wennberg, San Jose Sharks

The smart, two-way, playmaking center is logging over 20 minutes a night for the young Sharks this season, the highest average ice-time of his career. He can be a solid third-line center option, and in New Jersey, he could push Cody Glass (once healthy) down to the fourth line, posits Nichols. That would give the Devils some nice depth down the middle.

Pavel Zacha, Boston Bruins

A reunion with the Devils would not present Zacha with the same level of responsibilities that he currently has with the Bruins, notes Nichols, and he sees him as more of a "role player." Whether or not Boston is willing to trade Zacha remains in question.