The Devils’ early 1-2-0 start hasn’t triggered any panic by itself, but it has put the spotlight right where it belongs: on a blue line that could still change quickly if the front office decides it needs an upgrade. GM Sunny Mehta already added forward depth over the offseason, and the same kind of move could be coming on defense if the current group doesn’t settle in soon.
There are also bodies on the way. Seamus Casey is expected to fight for a spot when he returns from injury in 7-9 weeks, and Devils fans are still waiting to see whether Quinn Hughes becomes a deadline possibility. If the defense stays mostly healthy, New Jersey may need to create room both in the lineup and on the cap before any bigger swing can happen.
That puts a few names squarely in the crosshairs.
Dougie Hamilton is the most obvious one to watch. The trade chatter around him got messy last season, and even though the new front office has quieted things down, the awkwardness around his future never really disappeared.
Hamilton has had a volatile run with the Devils, though it did include the high point of setting the franchise’s single-season record for goals by a defenseman. Still, with his $9-million AAV contract and just under two years left on the deal, he could become a useful trade chip if a contender is willing to take on the money.
His camp had already shown openness during the previous trade talks by expanding his 10-team trade list, and while a repeat of his 22-goal, 74-point season from 2022-23 may not be realistic, he remains the kind of player a deadline team could covet if it needs cap room. That’s the kind of space Mehta would have to clear to chase Quinn.
Jonas Siegenthaler is another candidate, especially if New Jersey really does make a run at Hughes. Siegenthaler left Tuesday’s 5-3 loss to the Utah Mammoth with an injury, a frustratingly familiar scene for a player who managed all 82 games last season after missing at least 25 in each of the previous two years.
The latest update is more encouraging, at least for now. Per Amanda Stein, he may be back in the lineup on Saturday, and he practiced with the team on Thursday.
Even so, the Devils have been burned before when it comes to his availability. He’s in the final two years of a manageable $3.4-million contract, and his 10-team no-trade list should not be a major hurdle if Mehta decides to move him to make room on the left side.
Declan Chisholm has already felt the ripple effect of that kind of shuffle. With Siegenthaler out, Chisholm slid over to his natural left side and skated next to Dougie Hamilton, picking up his first point as a Devil with a secondary assist on Jesper Boqvist’s goal.
He’s also one of only eight Devils skaters to record a point through the first three games, although that says more about the team’s muted production on the back end than it does about Chisholm himself. Once Jonathan Kovacevic is close to reclaiming his spot on the right side of Brenden Dillon, Siegenthaler’s return would likely knock Chisholm down to seventh defenseman - and that’s before Casey is back in the picture.
Chisholm is on the final year of a $1.6-million AAV deal, carries no trade protection, and cost only a fourth-round pick to acquire. If New Jersey wanted to move on, the return would already be acceptable.
Waivers would be, too.
In Other News...
Devils Fans Are Already Feeling Better About The Simon Nemec Trade
The Simon Nemec deal is already looking like one of those moves that can shift a fan bases mood in a hurry. Sunny Mehta sent the defenseman to Calgary in a package that brought back future draft capital and prospect help, a type of return that usually asks for patience before it pays off. For Devils fans, the immediate question was whether giving up a young blueliner would sting now and later.
So far, the early returns from Calgary have only made the wait easier to stomach. Nemec has not found the scoresheet in his first stretch with the Flames, and the new team has stumbled out of the gate with no points in the standings. It is still early, of course, but when a trade is built around future value, any rough start on the other side tends to make the original price feel a little more reasonable. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Get A Key Blue-Line Boost With Kovacevic Back
Johnathan Kovacevic is back in the mix for New Jersey after the Devils activated the defenseman off injured reserve, clearing him for a return as they continue their homestand against Vancouver. The move gives the blue line a needed reinforcement and ends a long wait for a player who is entering the second season of his five-year contract extension after working his way back from the knee surgery that kept him out through camp and the early part of the year.
Kovacevic brings a steady resume to the lineup, with 258 NHL regular-season games and 53 points to his name, plus three playoff appearances with New Jersey. For a Devils team that has had to manage its defensive depth carefully, his return adds another familiar option on the back end and raises the question of how soon he can settle back into game shape once he gets into action. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Allen Gives Devils Fans A Milestone Worth Appreciating
Jake Allen has already given the Devils something they have not had enough of at times, and his latest milestone only adds to the sense that they know exactly what they are getting in goal. The veteran netminder has been around long enough to bring a steady hand and a deep resume, from seven seasons with the St. Louis Blues to a stop in Montreal before arriving in New Jersey in March 2024.
There is also something fitting about Allen reaching a career mark like this while settling into a long-term future with the Devils. He is now under contract through a five-year extension signed in 2025, a sign the organization sees value in what he brings beyond the nightly saves. For a team always balancing present needs with longer-term stability, having a goalie with that kind of mileage and credibility is worth appreciating. [Read more 🡒]