James Nichols
The ink on a late night trade bomb is dry, and Darren Raddysh is now a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. The slick move by Toronto’s new management has a ripple effect on the New Jersey Devils.
Raddysh, the breakout right-shot defenseman who lit it up for the Tampa Bay Lightning this past season by registering 70 points, is now a Maple Leaf after a sign-and-trade that sends a 2026 fifth-rounder back to the Lightning.
For a team like Toronto desperate for hometown flavor and power-play punch on the back end, it’s a splashy addition on an eight-year, $68 million contract. But for the Devils, it’s a reminder that the offseason chessboard is already shifting.
New Jersey finds itself in a familiar spot heading into the summer: too much talent on one side of the ledger and not enough on the other.
With seven NHL-ready defensemen already under contract and promising kids like Seamus Casey knocking on the door, general manager Sunny Mehta has some work to do ahead.
The priority? Finding a way to inject scoring help up front—ideally a top-six winger who can complement Jack Hughes and the rest of the once high-octane attack. That math points straight at the right side of the defense as the most likely place to create movement.
Dougie Hamilton has been the subject of whispers for months, his big contract and veteran presence making him a candidate for a cap-clearing deal. But the name generating the real buzz—and drawing calls from around the league—is Simon Nemec. The 22-year-old Slovak, the second overall pick not that long ago, has shown flashes of high-end potential: offensive instincts, a nose for the net (11 goals in 68 games last season), and the kind of puck-moving ability that translates in today’s game.
Nemec is a restricted free agent this summer, which means any trade would involve his rights and a new contract somewhere else. That makes him a premium chip, not just salary relief.
Toronto landing Raddysh changes the equation, but not drastically. The Leafs had obvious holes on their right side and had been linked to various defensemen in rumor circles, including speculative chatter around Hamilton earlier.
Now, with Raddysh locked in long-term, they’re probably done chasing other right-shot blueliners for a while. That removes one potential dance partner for the Devils—one that might have brought some excitement or assets given Toronto’s market and resources.
It’s not a devastating blow, though. Markets like this rarely hinge on a single team, and Nemec’s pedigree ensures the phone will keep ringing.
If anything, it sharpens the focus for Mehta and company. Now it’s time to get creative, move smart, and don’t settle. However, it could take the Devils out of the running for a guy like Matthew Knies, unless Toronto still wants to get younger on the blueline which would make Nemec a viable option still.
Yet, the beauty of the current landscape is that plenty of clubs still have glaring needs on the right side of their defense because, quite frankly, there’s always a need for right-shot defensemen.
Here are the ones the Devils should be eyeing most closely as they shop Nemec (or, in a pinch, Hamilton):
The Anaheim Ducks stands out immediately. Their right-side situation is messy with three crucial veteran pieces in John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, and Radko Gudas heading into free agency or uncertainty. A young, dynamic piece like Nemec could accelerate their window alongside that promising forward core. They have assets to make a deal pop.
On the other side of the country, the Boston Bruins are looking for a right-shot compliment after Charlie McAvoy to deploy in their top four, and the Bruins often find ways to get creative in return packages. Yet, there are probably stronger matches like the Dallas Stars, who have been searching for a legitimate top-four righty ever since they let John Klingberg walk. They’re built to win now, and adding a player with Nemec’s upside could be the final piece in their defensive puzzle—especially if they’re willing to part with some forward depth.
Looking North, the Edmonton Oilers continue to hunt for balance on the back end to support Evan Bouchard similarly to Boston and McAvoy. They’ve kicked tires on veteran right-shot options before; a younger, controllable talent like Nemec might fit their timeline better as a younger option in Edmonton’s questionable future while giving them immediate help. Perhaps the Winnipeg Jets even covet a young right-defenseman in their uncertain future, which likely makes Nemec a match there as well.
And, of course, the San Jose Sharks remain the most intriguing trade partner for a different reason. They’re rising with young forwards but thin on proven NHL defensemen—even after acquiring Michael Kesselring. Trading from their forward surplus to land a high-ceiling blueliner would be classic Sharks asset management under Mike Grier. Perhaps a Nemec for Collin Graf swap is in order.
Other clubs worth monitoring include Nashville (thin on right-shot depth), Ottawa (perennial righty seekers), Detroit (looking to stabilize their second pair), St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and the New York Islanders—who’ve shown past interest in Nemec. Even the Utah Mammoth has popped up in Hamilton conversations before.
None of this guarantees a deal before the draft or free agency kicks off, but the Devils aren’t operating from weakness and New Jersey Hockey Now has learned Mehta is working the phones for a potential upgrade.
Their blue line logjam is a problem many teams would love to have, and Nemec represents the kind of young talent that sparks serious offers. Hamilton could still move in the right cap-friendly scenario, but the focus feels squarely on maximizing value from the younger piece as Mehta’s regime appears to value Dougie.
This summer certainly feels pivatol. The Raddysh news to Toronto has an effect on New Jersey, but it is just one domino.
How the Devils respond—whether by holding firm on Nemec’s value or finding the right forward-for-D swap—could define the next few years in Newark. The market is open, the needs are clear, and the opportunity is there.
Now it’s about execution.
