James Nichols
There’s no doubt the New Jersey Devils should aggressively pursue a top-six winger by dangling the 12th overall pick at the 2026 NHL Draft.
The NHL salary cap is set to shoot up $8.5 million this summer up to $104 million. That’s going to open up plenty of cap space for the 32 NHL GMs to wheel and deal.
The Devils have a clear scoring problem. Last season, they ended the year 27th in the NHL with 2.76 goals per-game.
According to several scouts that New Jersey Hockey Now has spoken with, they couuld also stand to add some size.
That sounds like Brady Tkachuk’s makeup. With all the noise around the Ottawa Senators captain, one wonders if he could be on the move after a quick first-round exit.
However, he addressed the chatter about his future, explaining he doesn’t understand where the narrative came from. So, until he’s officially available, who else could the Devils trade for at the 2026 NHL Draft?
Matthew Knies – Toronto Maple Leafs
So, the Toronto Maple Leafs won the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. After a verbal lashing from the Toronto media following the hires of general manager John Chayka and senior advisor Mats Sundin, the Maple Leafs jumped four spots in the draft order and were afforded the opportunity at Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg.
Will the new Toronto regime tear it down to the studs with the uncertainty around captain Auston Matthews? Perhaps they’ll retool given their core has failed to win anything through two different general managers now.
Or will they try to add to what they already have?
Well, at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline, the Maple Leafs were shopping Matthew Knies. The Devils were, in fact, interested in the power forward, but nothing materialized.
Yes, both teams now have new front offices, but there’s certainly still a fit here.
Toronto undoubtedly needs a remodel on their blueline, which the Devils can provide. And the Devils have a need in the top six, a scorer who can play with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, and one that plays with an edge.
Enter Knies—who is going into his age-24 season and has two 20-plus goal seasons, nearly touching 30 in 2024-25 after potting 29.
Add in Knies’ 152 hits this season and willingness to drop the gloves, and he’s exactly the kind of player the Devils are missing.
If Mehta can mend the relationship with Dougie Hamilton, a package with the 12th overall pick and perhaps Simon Nemec gives the Maple Leafs the opportunity to fast track their blueline rebuild while likely adding an impact forward in McKenna or Stenberg at first overall.
It seems like a win-win situation for both teams.
Jordan Kyrou – St. Louis Blues
Whereas the Maple Leafs have to figure out their direction, the St. Louis Blues’ should be clear.
The Blues need to rebuild, get out of some contracts, and build through the draft.
They already have two first round draft picks in the first round of the upcoming draft. What better way to expediate a rebuild other than having three?
St. Louis owns picks 11 and 15. The opportunity to select in between at 12 give the Blues the chance to draft three cornerstone players for their franchise.
Amid the dreadful year in St. Louis, Blues star Jordan Kyrou scored just 18 goals and 46 points in 72 games.
It was certainly a down year for the three-time 30-goal scorer. Yet, the 28-year-old forward fits the mold in New Jersey. Kyrou is a speedy, skilled winger that knows how to score off the rush. He’d fit like a glove next to Hughes and Bratt, which would certainly see him return to his 30-plus goal form as the trio would undoubtedly form one of the fastest and most dynamic lines in the league.
Kyrou has five seasons left on an eight-year deal that pays him $8.125 per season. In Kyrou’s age, skillset, and contract, Kyrou is a superb fit for New Jersey.
Jason Robertson – Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars were eliminated in the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Now, the dial is turned to 11 on a contract extension for Jason Robertson.
It’s probably dragged on too long already.
At Dallas’ exit meetings, GM Jim Nill said all the right things. The claim is he wants Robertson to be a Star for life.
However, there’s “a number” that needs to work for both sides, and they have to find it.
Well, if Dallas and Robertson can’t get that squared away by the 2026 NHL Draft, Mehta should be knocking down Nill’s door for the three-time 40-goal scorer that was undoubtedly snubbed from Team USA’s Olympic roster.
The Stars don’t have a first-round pick in the upcoming draft and continue to have a need for a right-shot defenseman.
It’s another fit for the Devils to move the 12th overall pick, Nemec, and perhaps anything else necessary to get the deal done, and hopefully figure out “a number” form themselves in the process.
Alex DeBrincat – Detroit Red Wings
The reason why the Blues have two picks already in the first round is because one of them came from the Detroit Red Wings.
Thus, Detroit could try to get back into the first round. And after they failed to get into the playoffs for the 10th season in a row, it’s time to consider a new direction.
The Red Wings have a mix of veteran and younger players. Of note, Dylan Larkin, Patrick Kane, and David Perron are some of their oldest forwards.
Alex DeBrincat isn’t far behind at 28 years old. If Detroit is looking to shake things up, the Devils should swoop in and acquire the three-time 40-goal scorer who has one year left on a bargain contract that pays him $7.875 million.
DeBrincat won’t help the narrative that the Devils need to add size. However, he shoots out of his weight class with a booming shot.
Playing next the Jack and Bratt is—at this point—better than playing with Kane for DeBrincat. He would automatially become the Devils’ shooter on their first unit power play and at even strength, he’s another dynamic scorer off the rush.
If the Red Wings want to make changes and are looking to hop back in the first round, DeBrincat is another option Mehta should aggressively pursue.
