As the New Jersey Devils entered the offseason, the spotlight was on new General Manager Sunny Mehta, who faced a familiar challenge: securing a top-six forward to complement Jack Hughes. Rumors swirled about several potential trade targets, and the Devils had two key assets that could help them achieve this goal.
Those assets were Simon Nemec and the Devils' own first-round pick, 12th overall in the NHL Draft.
In a bold move just days before the draft, Mehta traded Nemec to the Calgary Flames, receiving two future first-round picks and the 35th overall pick in return. While some fans believed Nemec's value was underestimated given his recent performance, the trade package suggested otherwise. For Mehta's first trade, it was quite the haul, with the 35th pick adding even more value to Nemec's perceived worth.
However, the Devils' activity at the NHL Draft was quieter than anticipated. Mehta decided to hold onto the 12th overall pick, using it to select Swedish forward Alexander Command. Though some higher-ranked players were still available, Mehta opted for Command, a choice that left some fans scratching their heads due to the Devils' past experiences with Swedish first-rounders.
Despite the return from the Nemec trade, the Devils still hadn't addressed their need for a top-six forward. While the trade for Nemec was a win in terms of future assets, it left fans wondering if Mehta could have leveraged Nemec for an immediate impact player instead.
During Day 2 of the NHL Draft, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Dallas Stars were open to trading their star forward, Jason Robertson. However, many teams had already used their first-round picks, complicating potential deals. The Devils, with Nemec and the 12th pick still in hand, could have made a compelling offer to Dallas, whose right-handed defensive options were limited.
The path to acquiring a top-six winger or a standout goalie like Connor Hellebuyck has become more challenging for Mehta, now that his prime trade assets are gone. The remaining first-round picks, originally belonging to Colorado and Vegas, aren't expected to be as high as the 12th overall pick.
While the offseason is still young, Mehta's options for landing a player like Robertson are now more limited. The Devils don't have another asset with Nemec's trade value, and players like Dawson Mercer or Arseny Gritsyuk aren't likely to fill that gap.
Though Mehta might be dealing with constraints left by his predecessor, Tom Fitzgerald, that excuse won't hold indefinitely. The pressure is on to find solutions and make strategic moves to strengthen the Devils' roster.
In Other News...
Devils Face A Massive Connor Hellebuyck Or Jacob Markstrom Decision
The Devils offseason has a familiar shape to it: Jack Hughes needs more help up front, and the goaltending situation has not settled the way the front office hoped when Jacob Markstrom arrived. New general manager Sunny Mehta inherits both problems at once, and the pressure to upgrade in goal could push New Jersey into a bigger swing than a usual summer shuffle.
One name hovering around that conversation is Connor Hellebuyck, a target whose availability could reshape the market if the Devils decide to press forward. The path there is not simple, though, because moving Markstroms contract may be part of the equation, and it is unclear how much extra value New Jersey would have to attach to make that kind of deal work. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Draft Weekend May Have Revealed A Bigger Plan
The Devils draft weekend already came with a clear headliner in Alexander Command at No. 12, but the rest of the class suggested New Jersey was chasing more than one type of future contributor. General manager Mehta kept coming back to the idea of adding productive players with dynamic qualities, and the later-round picks fit that broader search for skill rather than simply filling out a board.
For a team trying to keep building around a stronger talent base, that approach can matter just as much as the first name off the board. The draft also left enough room to wonder whether the Devils are keeping an eye on bigger roster movement elsewhere, with Winnipeg at least willing to hear trade ideas on its side of the goalie market, even if the full shape of that situation is still unclear. [Read more 🡒]