The New Jersey Devils Want a First Line Impactful Forward

Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period on TFP The Hotstove was asked about the New Jersey Devils and why they were so quiet at the trade deadline. Their goal is to get an add a top-six, first-line-calibre player.

NHLRumors.com Transcriptions

Peter Berce: “The same thing goes with the Devils. The New Jersey Devils fans are not sure what the direction is with Tom Fitzgerald, and then him saying that I didn’t really look to pedal Dougie Hamilton. The Devils were quiet at the deadline, Dave.”

Dave Pagnotta: “They were also engaged in, like a lot of teams, there was a lot of activity, throughout the day and throughout the week. But obviously, everybody wants action. Yeah, the Devils, just they were engaged. They were talking. They were looking for a first line caliber player. I think they were more so fishing in the bigger ponds.

NHL Rumors: Will New Jersey Devils Trade Simon Nemec Or Any Other Defensemen?

And Simon Nemec, his name, popped up a few times. And I think one of the reasons why there isn’t an appetite, but at least a willingness to listen to Simon Nemec again, they’re looking for a first-line calibre player. So if they were going to move Nemec, it was going to be for that.

And part of the reason why it seemed like they were comfortable in going in that direction, in moving out a body on that back end, a young body on that back end, is because they have Anton Silayev, who’s in Russia right now, 19 years old, left shot D doing well over there. The anticipation is that he’s going to be with the team or signing with the team after his season.

His contract in Russia expires, I believe it expires after the season, and I’m pretty sure they’re going to take a strong look at getting him over to this side of the pond to be with the Devils organization in some fashion. So look out for that in the summer or spring perhaps. But it looks like that’s something that’s going to be on the horizon. Now. He’s a left shot. Nemec is right.

Then, (Jonas) Siegenthaler, his name was also out there. They were listening on him. (Johnathan) Kovacevic, I think, to a certain degree, although he has a full no-trade. But they had some pieces that they were willing to talk about. And they again were looking for that first-line piece. I think that’s something they’ll resume in the summer.”

NHLRumors.com Note: It is clear that Simon Nemec’s time with the New Jersey Devils could be coming to an end. As GM Tom Fitzgerald said on Friday, following the trade deadline, he is a part of our organization until he is not. There is a belief that he is willing and open to a trade. Nemec is an RFA and has seen what Luke Hughes got and could be asking for similar. Nemec just wants an opportunity to play more minutes.

NHL Rumors: Rangers, Trocheck, Schmaltz, Hurricanes, and a Trade Came In Too Late

Regardless of what happened with Hamilton, the New Jersey Devils will pay his signing bonus on July 1 of $7.4 million and try to move him. But they want to make a hockey trade that makes sense. Is William Eklund that impactful first-line calibre forward for the Devils? New Jersey should move Nemec in a deal for a Jordan Kyrou, Robert Thomas, or someone of that ilk.

Again, Fitzgerald is in sync with Devils ownership and David Blitzer, so it will be interesting to see what moves he makes and if he is there.

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