The Devils chose depth over Ryan O’Reilly (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Now that their season has come to an end, two of the most significant areas of need for the New Jersey Devils at the NHL Trade Deadline were the center position, along with goal scoring. Unfortunately, neither was addressed. Whether the team had all its centers healthy or not, GM Tom Fitzgerald was looking for a center with a long-term deal.
“With or without Jack [Hughes], I was trying to add to the center-depth of our team. I went at centers hard. They take up some time, when you’re on one and just keep pushing. The things on the side may fall. But you stay in the fight,” Fitzgerald said on March 7th, the day of the trade deadline. “[A player] with term, someone who would have been here next year. We came in second on it. When you lose the decision, that’s heartbreaking.”
As he indicated, he was trying to be aggressive in the trade market, especially down the middle, with the loss of Jack Hughes. Not to mention, as RG reported, the Devils were pursuing Mikko Rantanen hard before he was traded to the Dallas Stars.
Missed Opportunities
However, despite all that, the Devils GM never came in second for any center that was moved. Whether it was Brock Nelson, Charlie Coyle, Casey Mittelstadt, or Scott Laughton, the Devils were never pursuing any of those players.
According to sources close to RG, the player the Devils GM wanted was Predators center Ryan O’Reilly, and coming in second was a way of saying he was not going to pay a high price to upgrade his team.
“The Devils were pursuing Ryan O’Reilly, and they did not want to pay a premium to get him,” a source told RG exclusively. “So saying the team came in second was a way to save face for not utilizing the cap space at the deadline.”
Entering the trade deadline, Ryan O’Reilly was a hot commodity on the market. Despite not having a no-movement clause, the Predators were treating him like he had one. So, the asking price was going to be high if a team traded for him. Nashville was looking for at least three pieces as part of the deal.
“The asking price Nashville wanted from the Devils was Simon Nemec, Dawson Mercer, and a first-round pick,” a source told RG.
From the start, O’Reilly did not want to leave Nashville. He wanted to be a part of the solution moving forward after a disappointing year with the Predators. Thus, the asking price included three pieces, similar to what Trotz was asking for last year for Juuse Saros before signing him to an extension. So a team was going to have to overpay.
“This is a hard sell for any GM in the league. Overpaying for a player who did not want to leave will have ramifications moving forward. Why would the Devils want to give up those players for an aging player they see as part of their future?” a league source said.
That is why the Devils had to pivot from their original plans. Instead of giving up on young players for a veteran player, they called an audible. Fitzgerald acquired Cody Glass and Daniel Sprong—not the sexy names, but the more feasible and sensible move.
“They did the more feasible move with the asking price at a premium,” a source continued. “They said we ain’t doing that, and decided to add depth and create competition instead.”
Next Moves for Devils and O’Reilly
Now, that does not mean those players are not in play for a future player who could help them become contenders, but for those players to move, they need to be part of a hockey trade that makes sense and improves the Devils moving forward.
“Both Mercer and Nemec could be moved in the right package,” a source told RG. “The Devils are not actively shopping them. However, the belief is that one of them could be moved this summer to help the team upgrade in an area of need.”
As for O’Reilly, the Predators will continue to take calls on him this offseason. It is unclear if he would want to move if trades are presented to him. Trotz is going to listen, but the asking price will still be high for one of the Predators leaders.
Having 10 years of experience (SiriusXM NHL Network Radio, Rod Pedersen Show, Raw Mike Richards Show, and more) covering the Devils, the NHL along with College Football, the NFL, and the tennis circuit Jim Biringer has wealth of sports knowledge. As one of Jim's hockey coaches put it he is a "student of the game." During his time as a sports reporter, Biringer has covered some of the biggest events including most recently the 2024 Stanley Cup Final along with several NHL Drafts. He is also the host of the Full Press Hockey Podcast and Final Word on Hockey plus Around Campus - The College Football Podcast.
