As the NHL Trade Deadline approaches for 2025, this post ranks all of the active New Jersey Devils players based on their perceived trade value.
Next week is the NHL Trade Deadline for the 2024-25 regular season. The New Jersey Devils and 31 other teams in the NHL have until 3 PM ET on Friday, March 7 to get their trades into the league offices. From then on, it is a run to the postseason. The Devils will be playing that evening; they will be hosting the mighty Winnipeg Jets. For all we know, the Devils (and the Jets) could have some familiar faces missing by then. Maybe even some new faces too.
With the trade deadline being a week away, I thought it was best to perform what has become an annual tradition. Here is last year’s post for reference. This year, the situation is different. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald should be a buyer as opposed to a seller. Yet, to bring in players, someone may have to go and so knowing each Devils’ potential worth is valuable. To help prepare for what could take place by next Friday, this post lists the 2024-25 Devils players based on their perceived trade value.
Guidelines
First and foremost, this is a post about the perceived trade value of each Devil. This post, its ranking, and the commentary that comes with each ranking is not necessarily an endorsement of the player being traded. I am not suggesting, arguing, demanding, or declaring that Fitzgerald and his staff move any specific player on the team. As with the past trade value posts, this is a list of how I think each player’s trade value may be seen by the rest of the league. Also as with past trade value posts, I may be wrong.
Second, the ranking of this trade value list is based on how much value the Devils could receive if the player was put on the trade block. No packages are considered. No throw-ins or multi-team deals were thought of. If Player X on the Devils was made available for a trade, then how much would they get in return. That is what the tiers and the ranks are based on. #1 on the list may not necessarily be the best player on the New Jersey Devils this season. It does mean that I think they would get the most in return if they were available to be dealt away.
Third, the trade value considers multiple aspects. How the player is performing this season is just one of them. How the player is performing this season in context with past seasons is another. How old is the player is another factor. How much is their cap hit is another factor. How much left do they have on their contract is another factor. What position they play is a factor. How valuable is their skillset is another factor. There is a lot that can go into this perception of trade values. It has to because 31 different teams could mean 31 different ways they look at a player.
Fourth, as with the past posts, this is only considering the value of the 2024-25 Devils. I am not including prospects like Anton Silayev or Lenni Hämeenaho. I am not including the three second round picks the Devils still own for 2025. I am not including Utica Comet or Adirondack Thunder players. Not unless they have played at least five (5) games with the New Jersey Devils this season. Not past seasons, just this one. As of February 25, that means there are 22 skaters and 2 goalies in this post for a total of 23 players. This means Shane Bowers, Nathan Légaré, Nolan Foote, Brian Halonen, Nico Daws, Daniil Misyul, and Mike Hardman all miss the cut off for this post.
Fifth and finally, this list will be revealed in reverse order from the least valuable to the most. All contract information is from PuckPedia.
Tier 1: Minimal Value: “Sure, we can do it for Future Considerations.”
#24 Justin Dowling – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $775,000 – Two-way Contract, Pending UFA
Justin Dowling comes in last on this perceived list for one simple reason: every team in the NHL has a player like Dowling in their system. Maybe they are not 34 years old. Maybe they are not a center. Maybe they do not have 140 NHL games under their belt. But every team in the NHL has a veteran like this in their AHL affiliate, signed to a NHL deal in the hopes of getting an opportunity to play. Dowling has his between injuries to centers and said centers not playing so well when they returned. That does not mean he has actual value to others. Certainly not with a mere 22 shots on net in 40 games and getting out-played in 5-on-5. Because every team has players like him in their system, I cannot forsee someone wanting him alone.
#23 Kurtis MacDermid – Cap Hit: $1.15 million, 2024-25 Salary: $1.25 million
The Devils traded for MacDermid last season, sending a 7th round-selected KHLer in Zakhar Bardakov to Colorado for MacDermid. He has since done the following of note last season:
- He watched Jonas Sigenthaler get concussed by Matt Rempe.
- He fought some other guys. It didn’t matter much on the scoreboard.
This season, MacDermid added to this torrid list of accomplishments by watching by seeing Radko Gudas injure Curtis Lazar and doing nothing about it. More seriously, this apparent deterrent has not objectively deterred anything and his on-ice value is next to nothing since he cannot actually play for more than 5 minutes most nights. Points? MacDermid is not here to help put points on the board. Combine all of that nothing with a stupefying non-NHL-minimum contract and I cannot foresee anyone wanting MacDermid in a trade.
#22 Curtis Lazar – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $1 million – Pending UFA
Lazar was a hard-working bottom six forward you could appreciate in a fourth-line role last season. This season, he has not been appreciable. Lazar has managed to have worse 5-on-5 on-ice rates that Dowling. With one goal, three assists, and 20 shots in 33 games, you cannot even say he is chipping in any production. The injury he suffered from Radko Gudas hurt his season, sure. Yet, he has been healthy scratched for Dowling in recent games. The 30-year old has been in the league for over 500 games and I could see someone wanting to take a flyer on him for depth in the Summer. I could not see anyone wanting to trade for him, especially since they will likely be able get him relatively cheaply in July.
#21 Nathan Bastian – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $1.35 million – Pending UFA
Nathan Bastian is actually a solid defensive winger. The problem is that this is not the 1990s or early 2000s and being a one-way forward that does not add much on the scoresheet is not valuable. Bastian has three goals, five assists, and 36 shots in 41 games, which is not much except in comparison to the likes of Lazar, MacDermid, and Dowling. Bastian’s on-ice rates are great defensively but abysmal offensively. Which is the main issue with Bastian. He is as much a part of the bottom six black hole as anyone. Add in the fact that he is a pending unrestricted free agent and I do not see what value he could have for others.
Tier 2: Low Value: “Yeah, OK. It won’t take much but we need something.”
#20 Tomas Tatar – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $1.8 million – Pending UFA
Tomas Tatar breaks ahead of the bottom tier simply because he actually has production that dwarfs that tier. Six goals, eight assists, and 50 shots in 53 games makes him look like a scorer compared to his usual bottom-six brethren. That said, there are factors against Tatar that will keep him from drawing much in value. Tatar is 34, he will be an unrestricted free agent in July, and he is not exactly cheap for a bottom-six player at $1.8 million. The thing with Tatar is that he can fill in a higher, more offensive role in a pinch. The team’s on-ice rates in 5-on-5 with Tatar have been good despite his usual teammates. Yet, he is not consistently productive or even good enough to sustain a higher role. He has not fit in well in a bottom-six role with energy players. That lack of clear role is another factor that would hurt his value to other teams.
#19 Paul Cotter – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $775,000
There is no lack of clarity of what Paul Cotter is. He is a bottom-six winger who throws hits. So many hits. He leads the Devils with 190 of them as of February 25. He is tenth in the league in hits. He throws lots of hits. Are hits all that valuable? Not really. Cotter does occasionally have some flash in his game and he did have a hot streak early in the season to boost his production to 13 goals and 19 points in 59 games. Keep in mind his 18.3% shooting percentage includes just scoring five goals so far in 2025. Cotter is cheap and 25 years old, but he is still a bottom-six winger. He is not particularly great on defense and his offense is inconsistent even without the flashy moments. Unless a team decides they need hits, they probably are not going to call Fitzgerald about Cotter.
#18 Erik Haula – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $3.15 million – No Trade Clause
Erik Haula has spent his time in New Jersey being a no-frills defensive center who can win draws at best and, at worst, a no-frills defensive center who can win draws and do not much else. This season is more of a latter. Haula’s return from an ankle injury earlier in 2025 has seen him struggle recently. Even before then, Haula has been relegated to be a part of the team’s bottom six that is a black hole of offense. There, Haula has provided just five goals, eleven points, and 76 shots on net in 47 games. Haula’s not attacking nearly as much as he did in previous seasons – mostly because he is not joined at Jack Hughes’ hip anymore. This has led him to be even less effective in getting the play to go forward. And the team’s on-ice rates against are not so good either; Haula’s on-ice xGA/60 of 2.64 is the sixth highest among all skaters this season. Haula is a center and he has the reputation of being solid defensively, as evident from his 4 Nations Face-Off appearance. That gives him at least some value. But between his season so far, that he turns 34 next month, he has a full no trade clause, and his not-totally-cheap contract, it is not a lot. Not that the Devils can afford to trade any centers. As poor as Haula’s season has been, his presence is usually an upgrade over Dowling and Lazar as centers.
#17 Brenden Dillon – Cap Hit: $4 million, 2024-25 Salary: $5 million – No Trade Clause
At the edge of tiers 2 and 3 lies Brenden Dillon. On some nights, he has been a perfectly fine defensive defenseman. He has loads of experience as he is 34 and has played over 900 games in the NHL. Dillon’s presence does not necessarily mean no offense. Granted, it helped that he played a lot with Dougie Hamilton in 5-on-5 but his on-ice rates are very much on the higher end in both directions – coming out favorably too. Dillon is not and never will be confused with an offensive player. Dillon has 12 points and 32 shots in 53 games. His lack of speed and tendency to be too rough has led him to penalties too. But when he is having a good game, he is an example of someone you do not notice and you are fine with that. Teams do want defensemen that can be like that to a degree. Whether they want a 34 year old one with a full no trade clause, well, not as much. That said, I think if he was made available, I would not be shocked that there would be a team offering more than just a late draft pick.
Tier 3: Medium Value: “All right, he’s available but it has to make sense for us.”
#16 Ondrej Palat – Cap Hit: $6 million, 2024-25 Salary: $4.95 million – No Movement Clause
Oh, Ondrej Palat. I wrote about him as a potential buy out candidate in a post about two weeks ago. It sums up what I think of him as a player. Palat is not good enough to lead a bottom-six line. He has to be tethered to better players to get results from him – but it comes at the cost of potentially holding those better players back. This season, that is Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. It is best described with this pithy meme from Dimitri Filipovic. Palat’s contract does have the benefit of costing less salary than his cap hit. It does have the massive negative of a no movement clause. While that opens up to a modified no trade clause on July 1, the 33 year old who turns 34 in March will not get much younger and that is also working against him. Palat’s big reputation is that he has intangibles that help in the playoffs. Surely, someone in a NHL front office believes that and so that is why he is in this tier and not one below it.
#15 Jake Allen – Cap Hit: $3.85 million, 2024-25 Salary: $3.3 million – 50% Salary Retained by Montreal, 3 Team No Trade List, Pending UFA
Now this is an interesting one. Jake Allen is a goaltender and a team that badly needs goaltending help would love to have someone like Allen hit the block. After all, Allen has had a very good season so far in New Jersey. He has an overall save percentage of 91%, which puts him in a tie with Linus Ullmark, Lukas Dostal, Eric Comrie, Karel Vejmelka, Marc-Andre Fleury, and Joseph Woll prior to Wednesday’s games. Allen’s experience comes with the flexibility of being a 1B goaltender or a backup for a team. While Allen is not young at age 34, he has more than shown he is capable at his position. Moving Allen is even more possible given his retained salary and a no trade list of just three teams. The big drawback is that anyone who wants Allen may be able to get him as a free agent on July 1. That alone limits his potential trade value. But it would not be for nothing in this season.
#14 Stefan Noesen – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $2.75 million – 10 Team No Trade List
Stefan Noesen is having a career year. This is largely because Noesen plays on the primary power play unit of the New Jersey Devils, who have one of the most successful power plays in the NHL with a conversion rate of 27.9% before Wednesday’s games. That said, being on a top power play unit means needing to perform while on it and Noesen has done that. He has scored those 10 power play goals out of his 19 total goals after all. Noesen has even played mostly with top-six caliber forwards like Nico Hischier and Timo Meier for most of the season. Noesen’s game may be a simple one but it has meshed well with more talented players. To a point where he has 124 shots on net – something else that does not just happen on its own from being on a top line. As a result, the team’s on-ice rates at 5-on-5 with him are really good. Noesen is still a complementary player who is enjoying a great situation on New Jersey this season. It is not likely this will happen next season, although I hope it does. I also do not think he would be this effective on the ice or this productive on most other teams. That limits his value. But between that, his relatively cheap contract, and a workable 10-team no-trade list, the Devils could sell high on Noesen if they wanted to. It would not be for a massive amount, but better than most of the other Devils. Hence, this ranking.
#13 Johnathan Kovacevic – Cap Hit: $766,667, 2024-25 Salary: $775,000 – Pending UFA
Teams, especially contending teams, love to add defensemen by the deadline. Even if they do not yield big deals, defensive defenders who can add to the backend are in demand. Add a right-handed shot and plenty of teams would be interested in someone like Jonathan Kovacevic. He has absolutely blossomed in New Jersey this season. He is one of the league’s best shutdown defensemen in 5-on-5 this season. His 2.06 xGA/60 in 5-on-5 play is among the top ten in the NHL among defensemen with at least 500 minutes of ice time. That is simply great. Oh, and Kovacevic is only 27. There are three issues with Kovacevic though that hurt his trade value. First, is that he is very much a one-way defender. He does not add much to offense but he is exceptional at killing plays from the opposition. While in demand, it does not usually bring a lot back. Second, Kovacevic having a great season like this out of nowhere would bring up a question of whether he could do it again. Is he having a hot defensive season or has he been put in the right system to thrive? Third, and perhaps most of all, he is a pending UFA. Kovacevic stands to get paid a lot of money this July. Again, why trade for a player that you can just sign on July 1? And even if someone wanted his signing rights, those deals tend to not bring in much. That all said, Kovacevic fits in the middle of list in terms of trade value. It is a lot better than a fourth round pick in 2026.
#12 Jonas Siegenthaler – Cap Hit: $3.4 million, 2024-25 Salary: $4 million – 10 Team No Trade List, Currently on LTIR
The best case scenario for Kovacevic is that he turns into someone like Jonas Siegenthaler. The 27 (28 in May) year old did blossom earlier than Kovacevic but the situation was similar. He was not getting much of a shot with his previous team but when he joined Ryan McGill in New Jersey, he became very good at defending. Siegenthaler has bounced back from a not-so-great 2023-24 to be one of the league’s top defensive defensemen. You know that xGA/60 rate that Kovacevic has? Siegenthaler has an even lower one at 1.92 xGA/60. His on-ice rates for offense are a bit better too, which is a nice bonus. Sigenthaler is on a solid contract with a solid cap hit and at a solid age for a defender. If he was made available, then there will be plenty of calls from plenty of teams. That issue of one way defenders only draw so much value does apply. So does the fact that he is currently on Long Term Injured Reserve so trading him now is not even an option. But if he was healthy, then he would be on the verge of the high value tier.
Tier 4: High Value: “He’s not available – unless you have something to offer to make him available. Even then, it has to be really good.”
#11 Timo Meier – Cap Hit: $8.8 million, 2024-25 Salary: $11.1 million – No Movement Clause
There is a case to be made to drop Timo Meier to a lower tier. His contract is massive. Moving it alone would be a lot for the Devils to do and for teams to take on. The no movement clause gives Meier plenty of leverage to block a deal. Meier is absolutely not playing up to his eight-figure salary with with 15 goals and 38 points in 58 games. He may be playing well defensively and his on-ice rates are good, but that is not why he was given $11.1 million this season. That said, if Meier was made available, a lot of teams would at least inquire about him. Most of the league knows that Meier is not a career 9.1% shooter. Most of the league knows he can and does drive the net (he is in the top ten in individual high danger chances in 5-on-5 play) and create his own shot – of which he has 164, third most on the Devils. They also know he is not on the rather effective primary power play unit of the Devils. A lot of teams would see moving Meier now as buying low on the player. They would still offer something of more value than a third rounder – even if you think that is what his play looks like this season.
#10 Brett Pesce – Cap Hit: $5.5 million, 2024-25 Salary: $7 million – No Trade Clause
Brett Pesce is similar to Siegenthaler and Kovacevic in that he is primarily a defensive defenseman. Unlike them, he does not take nearly as many penalties. Unlike them, he has overseen a lot of the growth of Luke Hughes. Unlike them, Pesce has averaged over a shot per game with 62. Granted, only one (a shorthanded one) went in and Pesce has just 11 points. But, unlike the two defensive aces, the team’s on-ice rates with Pesce in 5-on-5 are great in both directions. If nothing else, he is not a drain on the offense. I think many in the league like what Pesce does on the ice. I do not think it was an accident that after Quinn Hughes was unable to play for the 4 Nations Face-Off final, USA Hockey asked and brought in Brett Pesce to be an emergency fill-in. That tells me other teams covet the defenseman and that would draw some more significant deals than Siegenthaler or Kovacevic would. Pesce would come at a hefty price and he has some say in a deal given his full no-trade clause. But that is why he is in the high tier as opposed to the middle one. Unlike Siegenthaler and Kovacevic.
#9 Jacob Markstrom – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $6 million – 31.25% Salary Retained by Calgary, No Movement Clause
It took a first round pick and Kevin Bahl (and a disgruntled goalie due to a blocked deal) to get Jacob Markstrom with retained salary back in June. I do not know if that deal can be matched today but it could be quite close. Markstrom has done quite well in New Jersey. His overall save percentage is solid at 91.2%, just ahead of Allen and a heap of goalies prior to Wednesday’s games. He has played the majority of games for the Devils when available. Markstrom has been on injured reserve due to a knee injury after a collision in a game against Boston in January. It is a question as to whether the 35-year old will bounce back but I would like to think he will given the time to recover. His retained salary helps a potential move, although Markstrom can block it with his NMC. That stated, if Markstrom is made available, I would have to think it would command something similar to what the Devils got for him. That would put him in this range.
#8 Dougie Hamilton – Cap Hit: $ 9 million, 2024-25 Salary: $12.6 million – No Movement Clause
Dougie Hamilton is the highest paid New Jersey Devil this season by a lot. There is no way he could be a $12.6 million defenseman. But he is trying! Hamilton was given the big bucks to produce and produce he has. Before Wednesday’s games, Hamilton has nine goals, 31 assists, and 174 shots on net. Despite not being able to hammer slapshots like he used to, he is second on the team in shooting. Those shots are not wasted. Hamilton is on pace to reach the 50-point mark for the third time in his career. Hamilton remains an “adventure” on defense at times and his lack of speed has shown to be an issue. Yet, the team’s on-ice rates show that, in 5-on-5, Hamilton is on the ice for a ton of high event hockey that ends up being favorable for the Devils. He is the lone defender on that successful primary power play unit to a point where he in the top-20 in the NHL for defenseman production on power plays. His no movement clause – which yields a ten-team no trade list next season – is an issue for any deal beyond the contract. But, again, if he was made available now, a lot of teams would be making offers. That is what drives his placement on this list. He may not be worth a $12.6 million salary in 2024-25 but he is doing his best to earn as much of it as he could.
#7 Dawson Mercer – Cap Hit: $4 million, 2024-25 Salary: $3 million
Wait, Dawson Mercer? With the season he is having? Indeed. Mercer is having a disappointing season. After the contract extension, he has just 13 goals, 25 points, and 98 shots prior to Wednesday’s games. Instead of commanding a winger role on a first or second line, he has been bouncing around the lineup, often ending up in the bottom six. The on-ice rates with Mercer have been OK but not all that good to make much of a difference. How can he be 7th? Easy. Mercer is still a 23-year old forward in this league. His contract may seem high for his performance but if he was producing like he did in his rookie or sophomore seasons, then it would be close to a bargain. His contract is moveable and he does not have any clauses to get in the way. Mercer showing up to play in every game is also a plus; it is a reliability factor that a team can appreciate. If Mercer is made available to the other 31 teams, then 31 teams would likely ask themselves if they can offer him a better situation to perform in – and what they can do to make it work. A lot of teams would love to have a potentially productive secondary scoring winger under the age of 25 on a reasonable contract. That would drive up his value for a potential deal. Far more than older players who may or may not have humongous contracts. I think Mercer is salvageable as a player in New Jersey for what its worth. A lot of teams would be willing to take him on if the Devils feel otherwise.
Tier 4.5: High Value with Higher Risk: “I cannot have this deal bite me in the butt years from now. Don’t ask about him unless you have fair value.”
#6 Seamus Casey – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $950,000 – Entry Level Contract
I understand the thinking that with Seamus Casey, Simon Nemec, and eventually Anton Silayev coming down the pipe, someone may have to be moved rather than just spend too much time waiting for a chance in New Jersey. Casey met the game cut off so he is on this list. And rather high. Casey does have a lot in his favor. He is 21. He has a right handed shot. He was drafted out of the USNTDP and had a successful two seasons with the University of Michigan. A lot of the league knows of his potential – and he has shown flashes of it already. He started the season in New Jersey and ripped a couple of goals. He has since returned to the Devils after the 4 Nations Face-Off, recovering from an injury-shortened tenure with Utica in the AHL. He scored another banger off the post and in against Nashville. Casey has played just nine games and the team’s on-ice rates with him so far have not been good. But that makes sense as Casey still has a lot to learn at the professional level about defending. His skating and his shot are set. There is a lot of potential in Casey. That and his super-cheap contract would command quite a bit in a deal. So much that Fitzgerald should beware what he gets in return in case Casey blossoms into a high-end offensive defenseman somewhere else. Such defensemen are worth their weight in gold in this league and the Devils have a developing player like that in Casey.
#5 Simon Nemec – Cap Hit: $918,333, 2024-25 Salary: $950,000 – Entry Level Contract
They also have one in Simon Nemec! You know, the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft? The same one Casey was picked in the second round? Nemec has had a rough 2024-25 campaign. He got hurt in Olympic qualifiers with Slovakia. He made the team mostly because Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce were out. When they returned, Nemec was sent back to Utica. His call ups have not been impressive – the on-ice rates were not good – and he was recently outdone this past weekend by Casey. Production is not everything but Nemec has just the one assist in 12 games; Casey has beaten that already. Does this mean he’s cooked? Absolutely not! Nemec is a 21 year old defenseman on an ELC! Nemec still has a lot to learn as does any 21 year old player. Like roaming less on the ice. Which he can learn! He showed so much promise in 2023-24. Such that the talent displayed then just does not go away. I can understand he may be frustrated that last season did not lead to more ice time in New Jersey this season. (I think the injury set him back a bit.) But he has had his opportunities. He will get more. The skill is there and, like Casey, defenders with that skill are worth a lot in this league. The key here for the Devils is to not give up on him – especially during his ELC years! – now unless a massive return is coming back. In this who’s-now-yesterday-forgotten world of sports commentary and fandom, that is a lot to ask. But the Devils need to be careful. Hence, the name of the tier.
Tier 5: The Near-Untouchables: “Absolutely not. I don’t care what someone online says, this isn’t happening.”
#4 Nico Hischier – Cap Hit: $7.25 million, 2024-25 Salary: $8 million – 10 Team No Trade List
The captain of the New Jersey Devils is a do-it-all-and-do-it-well center. All situations, plenty of minutes and shifts, and great on-ice rates when Hischier takes a shift. All at age 26 too. Hischier has also brought the production this season. 24 goals on 144 shots prior to Wednesday’s game means he has been shooting quite hot this season. He has 22 assists to add to those points, with a good amount (19) coming from that primary power play unit. All of this on a contract that Hischier is arguably out-earning. The window to win with Hischier under this deal does have two more seasons after this one. Fitzgerald should maximize that and possibly extend it. Although it will not be so cheap in 2027. That is a future problem. If the Devils put Hischier on the block, 31 teams would be ringing up Fitzgerald to ask if it is too good to be true. Even the 10 teams Hischier would not accept a trade to would inquire. Hischier is that good.
#3 Luke Hughes – Cap Hit & 2024-25 Salary: $925,000 – Pending RFA
The Luke Hughes extension will also not be so cheap. It will also be earned. Luke Hughes has been flexing his talent this season. The team’s on-ice rates in 5-on-5 with Luke Hughes are great. Luke Hughes has learned to harness his speed to make great recoveries on defense and keep in position when able. Yes, he cycles around the offensive zone a lot with the puck to look for a different angle or draw different coverages to open up lanes for others. Luke Hughes may only have the 72 shots on net and 24 points in 50 games. When he is able to be more accurate with moving the puck, those numbers are going to skyrocket. Not many defensemen in the NHL can do that regularly. Only the very best can and Luke Hughes is one of them. Again, these defensemen are worth their weight in gold. Given the 21 year old’s trajectory, it could even be platinum one day.
#2 Jesper Bratt – Cap Hit: $7.875 million, 2024-25 Salary: $9 million – No Movement Clause
Jesper Bratt is a top-10 scorer in the entire NHL. Yes, he could shoot the puck more. I would not sweat it too much. Bratt is tied with Connor McDavid for fourth in the NHL with 51 assists. The man is very much involved in goals. Bratt is on pace to smash Scott Stevens’ record for most assists in a Devils season. He is a key part of the primary power play unit that has been so successful, as evidenced by his 26 power play points. When he is on the ice, good things have happened in 5-on-5. He is an elite winger. And at a contract he is arguably earning, if not out-performing by a bit. The no movement clause means Bratt has full control. Nevertheless, 31 teams would jump at the chance to offer a ton if Bratt was somehow made available. Only one Devil could garner more.
#1 The Big Deal, Jack Hughes – Cap Hit: $8 million, 2024-25 Salary: $8.5 million
Of course it is The Big Deal. It has to be. Jack Hughes is the Devils’ best player this season. The Devils’ on-ice rates when he takes a shift in 5-on-5 are fantastic. Hughes is a top ten scorer in this league. He leads this team in shots with 220. He leads this team in power play points with 27. If the Devils need a lift, the usual answer from the coaching staff has been to put #86 out there. The Big Deal is even a star in this league, capturing the passions of the current and next generations of fans and players. What puts him over the top on this list is his contract. His contract is an absolute bargain for a definitive first line talent for any team in the NHL. Hughes is providing $12 million worth of hockey for $4 million less. You cannot do much better than that. The Big Deal, once again, leads this list.
Your Take
I hope you appreciated my perceived trade value rankings of 24 New Jersey Devils players who have played at least five games with the team in the 2024-25 season. Again and as always, I could be wrong in how I perceive their value and/or their ranking. That is why I want to know your take on these rankings.
How would you rank the Devils by trade value? Who did I overrate or underrate in this list? Do you agree that The Big Deal, Jack Hughes, has the most trade value? Does Mercer have more value with his lighter contract and actual youth compared to the others in his tier? Do you agree with the make up of the middle tier of Palat, Allen, Noesen, Siegenthaler, and Kovacevic? What about the bottom end, does that make sense – even with Erik Haula? Could anyone on this list improve their trade value before March 7? And who could make it worse? Please leave your answers and other thoughts about the trade value of the current Devils players on the team in the comments. Thank you for reading.