Team: 2022-23 New Jersey Devils

Initial Creation Date: Jan. 23, 2023

Published: Jan. 24, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

In the past, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has talked about the pieces he would like to add to our forward group. He wants "heavy skill" as he terms it. Someone who can play in corners and in front of net. NJD have often been at the bottom the league for goals off of tips, deflections or goals off rebounds. But we are close to the top in shots from dmen. We have also been looking for the right player for Jack's line, a hybrid center/winger role that is able to adapt to certain situations playing with Hughes. We also need a player who can play on PP. Fitzy has said he doesn't believe in building teams at the deadline, thinks it should be done in off-season. He was twice a deadline rental himself and they were bad experiences for him leaving his family. He has also said he is not expecting to add any rentals and wants guys with term. And as he said after Palat and Haula acquisitions, he prefers guys with playoff experience.

Who checks all those boxes?

Brock Nelson
Age 31
Height 6'3"
Weight 212 lbs
Last 82-gp: 35 g, 38 a
Contract: 2.5 y at $6m (16-team NTC)

Interior player -- check
Score in close -- check
Screen, tip, deflect -- check
Clean up rebounds -- check
Can play C and W -- check
Can play PP -- check
Has term on deal -- check
Doesn't have to move -- check
Has playoff experience -- check


The downside -- NYI are a division rival. They only a few games out of the wildcard. Their biggest need is probably goalscoring. And he is 31 years old.