Devils Seeking Out Hockey Trade To Send Message

The New Jersey Devils have not had a good season and have played well below expectation with a 28-27-2 record. The team currently sits 15th in the Eastern Conference with 58 points and are 11 points back of a playoff spot. They have lost three in a row and five of the last six, scoring just two goals in the last three games and 10 goals in the last six. This is with a healthy team minus Luke Hughes and Stefan Noesen.

Something has to change for the Devils because as soon as Jack Hughes gets injured, the season typically falls apart. They have to be more than just their best player and have the talent to do so, but can never seem to bring it all together. The Devils have just over $4 million in cap space and more players that they can trade. Ondrej Palat was already moved out, which was a good move, but a larger trade has to happen to really shake things up.

James Murphy reported, "According to a trusted NHL source, the Devils are looking to make an impact 'hockey trade' that will shake up their roster and 'send a message' to their dressing room coming out of the NHL Olympic Roster freeze."

What seems the most likely is someone like Dougie Hamilton, Timo Meier, or Johnathan Kovacevic, in that order of likeliness and impact. These are larger cap hits, multi-year contracts, and players who have an impact on the game.

Hamilton has been in trade rumors for a while now with the emergence of Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec with Seamus Casey also coming soon. It would certainly shake up the team and send a message that players of this caliber aren't safe and players should kick their games into high gear. Because if a trade like this happens and the team doesn't respond, more might be coming as season by season, the Devils are unpredictable and haven't gotten over the hump since becoming a contender.