Team: 2017-18 New Jersey Devils

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 18, 2017

Published: Jan. 18, 2017

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

A mix of trades from the 2017 Trade Deadline, Draft, and 2018 TDL.

There isn't a lot that the Devils have going for them right now that can be part of their future. Zacha, McCleod, Severson, and Hall are the only young guys that I'd imagine is a part of their future plans. It seems that until this team makes a few more splashes, they aren't going anywhere. Even after acquiring Taylor Hall, their goal scoring is still terrible. Cory Schneider is great, but he's 30 years old and won't be an effective netminder by the time they're ready to contend again. It doesn't help that they play in the Metropolitan, with Washington, Pittsburgh, and Columbus looking like they'll be at the top for a little while longer.

Unless they make a drastic change, they'll be a bad team, but not bad enough to get the players you build around at the draft. So after they trade off all of their assets, they have to do what Arizona is doing. Utilize their cap space by taking bad contracts in exchange for top prospects. Teams like Washington and Montreal have big contracts that they want to get off their hands so they can be competitive a few more years.

The Devils rebuild would be long and hard for their fans to watch. It might take 3 or 4 years before they start showing some real promise, and another 3 or 4 years after that until they can be called Cup contenders.

I know you guys are gonna give me crap comments, but really whether you guys agree or not, it has to happen sooner or later.

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