The New Jersey Devils have been at the center of the NHL’s trade rumor mill this season-but so far, all talk, no action.
From the outside looking in, you’d think the Devils were gearing up for a blockbuster. Quinn Hughes rumors were swirling so heavily it felt like the deal was already done.
Add in names like Jordan Kyrou, Steven Stamkos, Ryan O’Reilly, Nazem Kadri, and even Dougie Hamilton, and it’s clear the Devils have been linked to just about every big name that’s hit the market. But despite all the smoke, there’s been no fire-at least not yet.
The Dougie Hamilton situation in particular raised eyebrows. After being benched, the veteran defenseman responded with a surge in performance-seemingly playing with a chip on his shoulder.
It’s the kind of response that can either boost trade value or force a front office to rethink its plans. Either way, it’s added fuel to the speculation.
And he’s not alone. Ondrej Palat, Simon Nemec, and Dawson Mercer have all been mentioned in trade chatter.
The rumor mill hasn’t just been spinning-it’s been in overdrive.
And yet, through all of it, the Devils stand alone in the Metropolitan Division as the only team that hasn’t made a trade since the season began.
Let’s run down the list. The Rangers, Islanders, Blue Jackets, Penguins, Flyers, Hurricanes, and Capitals?
All active. All have made moves to try and shake things up or plug holes in their rosters.
The Devils? Radio silence.
The Hurricanes just picked up Viktor Neuchev from the Sabres. The Penguins have been especially aggressive-landing Ilya Solovyov from Colorado, trading Tristan Jarry for Stuart Skinner, and adding Yegor Chinakhov from Columbus. That’s not just tinkering-that’s retooling on the fly.
Even Columbus, one of the league’s more unpredictable teams this year, brought in Mason Marchment from Seattle. Around the Metro, teams are making moves. The Devils, meanwhile, are stuck in neutral.
Now, to be fair, New Jersey did make a move earlier this season-sending Kurtis MacDermid to Ottawa for Zack MacEwen. At the time, it looked like a solid depth pickup.
But MacEwen suffered multiple injuries and is now out for the season. Tough break, and certainly not the kind of impact move that shifts the trajectory of a season.
Which brings us to the big question: What’s the holdup?
There’s no doubt the Devils have been in a tough spot. They’ve needed a jolt, something to spark a roster that’s shown flashes but hasn’t quite found consistency.
There were moments when it looked like GM Tom Fitzgerald or head coach Sheldon Keefe might be on the hot seat. They’ve weathered the storm-for now-but the pressure hasn’t gone away.
A well-timed trade could change everything. It could stabilize the locker room, re-energize the fanbase, and send a message that the Devils are still in this fight. But as of now, that move hasn’t come.
With the rest of the division making noise, New Jersey’s silence is starting to stand out-and not in a good way. The Devils have the assets, the cap space, and the motivation. What they don’t have yet is a deal.
Time’s ticking.