New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald spoke to Pierre LeBrun and mentioned that the team would like to add depth forwards with size this offseason to bolster the lineup.
New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald spoke to Pierre LeBrun and mentioned that the team would like to add depth forwards with size this offseason to bolster the lineup.
"We’ve got a lot of skill, we really do. I’d like to get a little harder. Get harder on the wing,” Fitzgerald said. “We’ve got enough talent for offence, but the game is still physical. You got to take hits to make plays. I want a team that is committed to playing through guys, not just circling off guys."
The Devils lost two of their most impactful bottom six players recently. Miles Wood left in free agency to join the Colorado Avalanche and Michael McLeod who was charged with sexual assault in London, Ontario.
The Devils will have $21.5M in cap space next season. As it stands they have three forward spots in their bottom six and their backup goalie spot to fill. Fitzgerald has been very vocal about trading for a top-end netminder.
The Devils will likely look to upgrade their bottom six through free agency and they'll have a plethora of options.
Players that fit the description of what Fitzgerald is looking for include Tanner Pearson, Dominik Kubalik, Zemgus Girgensons, Yakov Trenin, Sam Lafferty, and William Carrier to name a few.
Too frequently this season the Devils have had games where they've been outplayed physically. Adding a pair of wingers with speed and forechecking skills will help the team overall. Spending less time in their own end will allow the skill in their top six to flourish.
The Devils have more than enough skill up front with Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Erik Haula, Ondrej Palat and Alex Holtz. They frequently win their minutes and their production is up there with some of the best players in the NHL. Successful Stanley Cup contenders have hard-working bottom sixes with penalty-killers and timely goal-scorers.
If the Devils can upgrade their goaltending and bottom six, they can find themselves back at the level they were in 2022-23.
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