The New Jersey Devils aren’t where they need to be and they need some help through trades to upgrade their roster. With Dougie Hamilton out until the playoffs and Akira Schmid sent down to the AHL, there is a big need for both a top-four defenseman and a goalie. This is exactly how the Devils see it as James Nichols of NJ Hockey Now says trade talks involving Michael McLeod are intensifying with hope he can be traded to improve the defense and goaltending.
This would be a big sacrifice to make, but the team will have to pay him next season and there are more than enough options to shift over to center, even if they aren’t as defensively capable as Mcleod. While the forward group may or may not be able to handle the hit of losing McLeod, he is someone that many teams would be interested in if he’s available. Let’s take a look.
Montreal Canadiens
Teams that have both a top-four defenseman and a capable goalie who could use the services of McLeod in the near future are few and far between. The Montreal Canadiens just happen to be on that short list. It seems like Kirby Dach just can’t catch a break with injuries and is missing significant time for a second time in his young career. On top of that, Christian Dvorak is injured a lot and only has a year left on his deal. It’s also likely that Sean Monahan will be traded sooner than later, so the need and space is there in Montreal, a team that is trying to come out of a rebuild soon.
As for the assets the Canadiens can offer, David Savard and Jake Allen are available. The Canadiens would love to move on from their three goalie situation, and Allen has the experience and is capable of playing the minutes the Devils need down the stretch and potentially into playoffs. He doesn’t break the bank, but the Canadiens can surely retain. The problem with both Allen and Savard are that they are both signed through next season, That could be an offseason problem to figure out though. Savard is a strong defensive player who could fill in on the right side in the top-six for the time being. If needed, some players could shift around and it would take the pressure off of Simon Nemec.
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are nearing a big roster breakdown and the Devils can pick at those pieces likely on the move. While the Flames wanted a player in Yegor Sharangovich back in the Tyler Toffoli trade, I expect they wouldn’t be opposed to a young centerman in McLeod coming to Calgary in another trade. The top-four defensemen the Devils could target are Noah Hanifin and Chris Tanev, while there is a chance, but not a large one, that they also show interest in Dan Vladar as a goalie option.
McLeod would definitely help out in Calgary if Elias Lindholm is traded. The Flames would look very weak down the middle if there isn’t a replacement coming in. Hanifin would cost more, but will definitely be one of the most sought after players before the trade deadline. Tanev is more injury-prone, but the Devils will know they are getting a very strong defensive presence. Maybe that is exactly what they need for their goaltenders. As for Vladar, there’s much better out there and his extra year isn’t ideal. The Flames may want to move him now because of Dustin Wolf, but the Devils would likely stick to talks on defensemen from the Flames.
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks would be able to provide a goalie that has performed well for a poor team the past two seasons. This isn’t where the Devils would go to find a defenseman though. Petr Mrazek would be the netminder of interest to the Devils as the veteran has put together a .904 SV% in 24 appearances for a bottom-feeder. He is saving the team a lot of the nights and would be a huge help in New Jersey this season. He is a UFA at the end of the season too.
The Blackhawks might not be very close to competing, but with Connor Bedard, they could be closer than expected. There are a number of talented young players on the team, but if Jason Dickinson and Tyler Johnson are to be moved, there is a need for a centerman. McLeod would be in the age range of this group and help in the defensive aspect of the game. Since he is an RFA and there is a good amount of money available in Chicago, there would be no problem paying him for multiple years to lock down a spot in the lineup.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Top 3 Trade Options for New Goaltender
It may be tough to let go of Mcleod, but sometimes that’s the cost of doing business. It takes assets to acquire what they are hoping to bring in to win a Stanley Cup.
