The New Jersey Devils are diving deep into their season's performance to figure out what went wrong after a promising start fizzled out. With an offseason full of potential moves, the team is looking to shake things up and get back on track.
Insider David Pagnotta from the Fourth Period suggests that two veteran defensemen might hit the market soon. If they do, the Devils could be interested.
Last summer, the Devils attempted to send Dougie Hamilton to San Jose. Pagnotta believes this move could still be on the table, but the Sharks might also eye Morgan Rielly from the Toronto Maple Leafs or Darnell Nurse from the Edmonton Oilers, should they become available.
Imagine the Devils successfully move Hamilton to the Sharks. This scenario could open the door for the Devils to pursue either Nurse or Rielly. It's conceivable that the Leafs or Oilers might want to offload one of these contracts.
However, swapping one high-priced defenseman for another might seem puzzling. The Devils have been eager to move Hamilton, so why bring in a similar contract?
Both Rielly and Nurse have four years remaining on their deals. Nurse carries a $9.5 million cap hit, while Rielly's is a more manageable $7.5 million.
Trading Hamilton for either Rielly or Nurse might not seem like a solution. But there could be a way to justify such a move.
A 1-for-1 swap could be in play
A 1-for-1 trade involving Hamilton and Nurse seems unlikely. The Oilers are eager to clear cap space, and swapping Nurse for a similar contract might not be ideal for them.
On the other hand, a Hamilton-for-Rielly trade could make sense. Rielly, the longest-serving Maple Leaf, is approaching 1,000 games in Toronto. Some believe a change of scenery could benefit him.
The same could be said for Hamilton. Both players might thrive with a fresh start, and the Devils would save about $2 million in cap space.
Additionally, Rielly's connection with Sheldon Keefe could help him rediscover his form in New Jersey.
While this discussion might seem speculative, Devils fans shouldn't be surprised if these rumors gain traction during the offseason.