The New Jersey Devils are undoubtedly a team to watch this off-season. General manager Tom Fitzgerald made it clear that he is not content with where the Devils are right now and that roster changes are on the way. Thus, it should be a busy summer in New Jersey.
The Devils' bottom six will likely get a makeover this off-season, but that should not be the only area they aim to improve. When looking at their current roster, it is fair to argue that they could use another top-six winger. Due to this, one player who they should be all over if he hits the free-agent market on July 1 is Winnipeg Jets forward Nikolaj Ehlers.
If the Devils brought in Ehlers, he could slot perfectly on a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. This is because he is a highly-skilled offensive player who is both a playmaking and scoring threat. Thus, he could thrive playing with two stars like Hughes and Bratt. In addition, Ehlers would be an obvious choice for the Devils' power play if signed.
Ehlers had another strong regular-season with the Jets this year, recording 24 goals, 63 points, and a plus-14 rating in 69 contests. He has also been impactful this post-season for Winnipeg, posting five goals, seven points, and a plus-2 rating in seven games thus far. With numbers like these, he would be a massive pickup for a Devils team looking to cement themselves as legitimate contenders.
The Devils should seriously consider making a run for Ehlers if he is available on July 1, even if it means moving out money elsewhere. He looks like he could be a great fit in New Jersey, but time will tell if the Devils end up pursuing him.
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