NHL Rumors: Could The New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres Be Trade Partners

Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumors here at Full Press Hockey. The NHL Trade Deadline is just over 24 hours away, and a lot is happening, with Mikko Rantanen potentially on the move again from the Carolina Hurricanes. But the bigger news is that Jack Hughes will be lost for the New Jersey Devils season after shoulder surgery. Does this injury affect the plans for Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils at the trade deadline?

Everyone knew the Devils were going to be active at the deadline as they needed to get a center. However, Jake Evans and Yanni Gourde are off the books. The Montreal Canadiens re-signed Evans, while the Seattle Kraken traded Yanni Gourde and Oliver Bjorkstrand to the Tampa Bay Lightning. There could be more coming there.

Even with those players off the board and Dougie Hamilton sidelined week to week with a knee injury, Fitzgerald still wants to be a buyer. He has no choice as not making the playoffs is not an option. Expectations were high with the moves he made in the offseason and the Devils still find themselves third in the Metro Division.

But Fitzgerald and the Devils have many needs besides a center. They need a top six scoring winger and a replacement on defense until Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler return. So what will the Devils do? Could they look to Buffalo and Dylan Cozens to solve their problems not only now but in the long term as well?

NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres

As Full Press Hockey has documented, the vultures are circling in Buffalo about what the Sabres will do with players like JJ Peterka, Owen Power, Dylan Cozens, and Bowen Byram. We know Sabres GM Kevyn Adams has an asking price for these players and is unwilling to move them.

The Sabres need a culture change for some of their players, but we know the history with guys leaving and winning Stanley Cups, like Jack Eichel and Sam Reinhart, to name a few. But it might be time for both clubs to realize they need to shake up their core.

However, as suggested on the Full Press NHL Podcast on Tuesday, the Devils and Sabres should consider making a hockey trade that involves Dylan Cozens and Bowen Byram for Dawson Mercer and Simon Nemec and a little more.

Jim Biringer: “We like to throw hypotheticals out here, right? They, for instance, the Devils were to go to Buffalo and say, we’ll give you Nemec and Mercer for Cozens, but you got to throw Byram in.”

David Calabretta: “I mean, Kevin Adams is hesitant. That’s all he is.”

Biringer: I mean, if the devil’s throwing a pick somewhere down the road too. I mean, that’s a, that’s a good that’s a that’s a hockey trade.”

Calabretta: “Yeah, Buffalo need anything they could get. They need to change their culture here. And if you think of it, if you go potential for potential, it’s a very fair trade. Simon Nemec has 1D categories in him. Dawson Mercer could be in the top six on Buffalo, and Dylan Cozens hasn’t exactly been the center that everyone expected. Bo Byram hasn’t really panned out in Buffalo either. So I think it’s a deal that makes sense.”

Vancouver Canucks: Vancouver Canucks Have a Tough Decision to Make with Brock Boeser

Carolina Hurricanes: NHL Rumors: Mikko Rantanen Still Undecided About Future in Carolina

Seattle Kraken: Seattle Kraken Have Multiple Players in Play at the NHL Trade Deadline

New Jersey Devils: Tom Fitzgerald To Address Multiple Needs for Devils at the Trade Deadline

It’s a Hockey Trade That Makes Sense

Again, these types of blockbuster deals normally don’t happen mere hours before the trade deadline. It would be hard to pull off, but this is the type of deal that keeps the Devils in the playoff conversation. Again with Hamilton out, the Devils need a right-shot D, Byram is that and he is playing his offside like Nemec is in New Jersey.

We know Nemec voiced his opinion about playing in the AHL, and he is filling in now and up with the big club. He is a piece the Devils could use to upgrade their team with no first-round pick this season. While they may not have been willing to deal him to another team before, they might have to consider it in this deal.

Dylan Cozens has five years left at $7.1 million on an AAV. The Devils may ask the Sabres to retain some, though with Hughes out this season, they can take on the full boat. However, with Luke Hughes needing a new deal next season, you need to maximize cap space. That’s why J.T. Miller did not come to New Jersey.

So, New Jersey would have to throw in a sweetener for Buffalo to eat its salary. But in the summer, Tom Fitzgerald said he did acquire Dylan Cozens, which would have to reshape the roster and move money out.

With Hamilton out, Byram can come in and slot into the top on the right side. Bryam has the potential to be a top-two defenseman in the NHL. He is an RFA that makes $3.850 million. The Devils have $13 million in cap space so they can take this deal on. He will need a new deal at the end of the season. But with Hamilton missing on the powerplay, Byram helps the Devils there too.

While you hate to see a guy like Mercer go, that $4 million AAV is a moveable contract. However, you have to give up something to get something. This would be the foundation for a potential Dylan Cozens trade to New Jersey.

I’m not saying it’s happening, but the Devils have to look into this if they want to remain in the playoff picture and not punt on the season. They can’t do it. Players like Brock Nelson and Kyle Palmieri will not help. Scott Laughton is a good depth piece. Ryan O’Reilly and Brayden Schenn are too expensive.

But this Dylan Cozens trade proposal is a hockey trade that makes sense long-term for both the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.

Stay tuned to Full Press Hockey as the latest NHL rumors swirl ahead of the Friday Trade Deadline.