The New Jersey Devils made a notable move on June 18, trading forward Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators. Haula had been in the rumor mill with the summer here, and now the Devils have officially moved him.

Seeing the Devils trade Haula was not particularly surprising, as GM Tom Fitzgerald said following the team's early playoff exit that roster changes would be made this summer. Furthermore, Haula struggled this season in New Jersey, recording just 11 goals, 10 assists, and a minus-6 rating in 69 games. 

With Haula being traded, the Devils now should be on the hunt for an upgrade at the third-line center position. When looking at pending unrestricted free agents who could make sense for the Devils, there is no question that Vancouver Canucks center Pius Suter stands out. 

Suter is coming off a very strong offensive season with the Canucks, setting new career highs with 25 goals and 46 points in 81 games. With this, he would have the potential to give New Jersey's top nine and power play more offensive production, which are two major needs.

Yet, another major reason why Suter would be a nice addition to the Devils' roster is his smart defensive play. With this, he would give the Devils another strong option for their penalty kill, adding to his appeal.

Suter is also 29 years old, so he is right in his prime. Thus, the Devils could comfortably offer him a multi-year deal in free agency, even if he is due to make more than his previous $1.6 million average annual value. 

Nevertheless, if Suter hits the free-agent market on July 1, it would be understandable if they made a big push for him. Time will tell if that comes to fruition from here.

NHL News: Devils Trade Veteran Forward To Predators The New Jersey Devils have announced that they have traded forward Erik Haula to the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Jeremy Hanzel and a 2025 fourth-round pick.

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