The New Jersey Devils are looking to improve their roster while maintaining cap space for potential midseason additions. Here's an analysis of five strategic moves to achieve this goal:
Sign Danton Heinen: Heinen is a versatile player with a positive analytical profile, strong forechecking abilities, and a history of contributing positively to team performance. He's a glue player who can take shutdown shifts and is statistically unlikely to harm the team. His defensive impact and forechecking skills make him a perfect fit for the Devils' new approach.
Sign Adam Henrique and Trade Nick Bjugstad: This move involves a key money-out, quality-in situation. Henrique, despite his age, has remained an above-average forechecker and has handled defensive responsibilities effectively. He can pair well with Danton Heinen to form a strong bottom-six shutdown line. Trading Bjugstad frees up $1.75 million in cap space, and Henrique's performance incentives make him a more cost-effective option.
Sign Michael Bunting: Bunting is a versatile forward who can play up and down the lineup. His familiarity with Sheldon Keefe and ability to contribute to the pace of play make him a valuable addition. He can support Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier and is a better forechecker than Anthony Mantha, who is available but may be overpaid.
Trade a Left-Handed Defenseman: The Devils have a surplus of left-handed defensemen, including Kolyachonok, Chisholm, and Siegenthaler. Trading a player like Brenden Dillon, who has struggled with consistency and is overpaid, can free up cap space. Siegenthaler, despite his struggles, is a better fit for the team's current needs, and Kolyachonok can be a depth option.
Analytical Value of the Moves: The proposed moves are analyzed using HockeyViz's Synthetic Goals model. Signing Heinen, Henrique, and Bunting adds value, while trading Bjugstad and Dillon frees up cap space. The net impact is a significant gain in quality of play, with the Devils potentially accumulating players rated highly in the model, even at third and fourth-line levels.
These moves aim to improve the Devils' roster while maintaining flexibility for midseason additions, addressing needs in the bottom six, top six, and defensive depth.
