The New Jersey Devils are expected to have a busy off-season as they look to take that next step and cement themselves as legitimate contenders. Due to this, the expectation is that the Devils will explore both the trade market and free agency to bring in new talent.
Two Devils forward have now entered the rumor mill, as Ondrej Palat and Dawson Mercer both made NHL insider Nick Kypreos' latest off-season trade board for Sportsnet.
It would not be too surprising if the Devils were open to moving on from Palat if the opportunity presented itself. The Devils shedding Palat's $6 million cap hit until the end of the 2026-27 season would be significant, as it would give them more cap space to work with to bring in a true top-six forward.
Palat appeared in 77 games this season with the Devils, where he had 15 goals, 28 points, and a minus-5 rating. In 197 games over three seasons with New Jersey, he has recorded 34 goals, 82 points, and a minus-9 rating.
As for Mercer, the Devils trading him would come with some risk. The 2020 first-round pick might be coming off back-to-back down seasons, but he has had past success and is still only 23 years old. Thus, there always is the potential for him to turn things back around in 2025-26.
Yet, at the same time, Mercer could be a valuable trade chip for the Devils to include in a deal if it means landing a major upgrade to their top six that would benefit them immediately.
In 82 games this past season, Mercer posted 19 goals, 36 points, and a plus-4 rating. His best season was in 2022-23, when he recorded career highs with 27 goals, 29 assists, and 56 points in 82 games.
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