Tom Fitzgerald, the general manager of the New Jersey Devils, revealed on Wednesday that Sheldon Keefe will take over as head coach of the team. Fitzgerald still has a few off-season tasks to complete, but Keefe’s hire was the first on his list. Now, in order to bring the Devils back to prominence, Keefe, the former head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, will set about recruiting a coaching staff and implementing a playmaking philosophy.
In order to ease the transition to a new style of play, new coaches typically bring in seasoned players. It can help a team adjust to a new scheme more quickly when players know how the coach expects them to prepare and perform.
The Devils might address other issues, including acquiring complementary forwards and seasoned defensemen, even though they can’t fix their goalie situation by going to the Maple Leafs. Here are four Toronto skaters that could fit both monetarily and conceptually into the Devils’ plans as they prepare to become free agents on July 1st. Projected salaries sourced from AFP Analytics
Max Domi Forward Projection: $3.575 million times two years
Max Domi has been a player who divides opinions throughout his career. The hoopla that preceded the 2013 12th overall choice by the Phoenix Coyotes has never fully been met by him. He’s now established himself as a hard-working middle-six guy who can provide both after nine seasons in the NHL.
Tyler Bertuzzi, a striker Prediction: $5.2 million over four years
Tyler Bertuzzi was recruited to Toronto to provide some toughness and backup scoring, just like Domi. As a middle-six winger, Bertuzzi is reliable for 20–30 goals and around 90 hits annually. He makes a lot of noise near the crease and on the walls. The Devils are in dire need of someone with his capacity for agitation. The price of Bertuzzi is the main source of worry.
Joel Edmundson, playmaker – Estimated: two years times $1.6 million
Joel Edmundson, at 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, is the quintessential size of a modern defensive defenseman. At thirty, he has a plethora of experience and a Stanley Cup from his days with the St. Louis Blues.
Defenseman Ilya Lyubushkin’s projection is $1.469 million over two years.
Ilya Lybushkin, another large, muscular defenseman that the Maple Leafs acquired at the trade deadline, would provide Edmundson with his expertise as a right-handed counterpart. Although Lyubushkin lacks Edmundson’s skating ability, he is a lockdown defenseman who counters opposing teams’ top six with his size and physicality. He is a valuable asset in the penalty kill as a shot blocker and lane clogger.
