James Nichols
Undoubtedly, the New Jersey Devils need to make an impact this summer and bring in a top-six forward.
Ever since the departure of Tyler Toffoli—which should never have happened—the Devils’ goal scoring average has steadily declined.
Last year, their 2.76 goals for per-game is the lowest it’s been since the 2020-21 season when they registered 2.59 goals per-game.
However, it wasn’t just the absence of Jack Hughes for an unhealthy portion of the season, nor the disappointing results in the top-six.
The Devils’ depth scoring continued to be an issue.
Now, there are some internal solutions here. First and foremost, Connor Brown should return to the middle six. Plus, Arseny Gritsyuk will return with a new contract and the Devils hope Cody Glass can build on his best goal total (19) in his career to date.
The Devils are also hoping Lenni Hameenaho can build on his encouraging sample of 33 games in which he netted two goals and eight points and showed well outside of the offensive zone.
Yet, if they can add one more guarantee to the bottom-six forward group with Hameenaho as an insurance, Sunny Mehta will be setting him and Sheldon Keefe up very reliable depth.
Given the free agency market will be weak, Mehta could explore a Devils trade to bring in some depth help. And given Mehta’s background, a reclamation project—similar to Kyle Dubas’ gambles with the Pittsburgh Penguins recently—could certainly benefit New Jersey.
So who might be out there?
Depth Devils Trade Targets
Ross Colton—Colorado Avalanche
By process of elimination, Ross Coloton could be playing his last games with the Colorado Avalanche in the Western Conference Final right now.
On July 1st, the Avalanche have just $2,979,159 available in cap space with only four NHL defensemen signed for next season, Jack Drury and Zakhar Bardakov as pending restricted free agents, and three additional pending unrestricted free agent forwards.
Colton is going into the last year of a four-year contract that carries a $4 million average annual value. He owns a 12-team no-trade list, but given that Colton grew up in Robbinsville, New Jersey as a Devils fan–and the fact that he’s been on the record to want to play in New Jersey before—it seems unlikely he’s nix a deal.
The 29-year-old forward can play both center and the wing. He scored nine goals and 24 points this season in 73 games on an average 12:31 of ice time.
Colton is physical and thinks shoot first with the puck on his stick. His speed compliments the Devils’ strength and he’s the kind of sandpaper they could use in their bottom-six.
Cole Perfetti—Winnipeg Jets
Winnipeg took Cole Perfetti 10th overall in the 2020 draft. He made the NHL a year later and kept improving his offense every season, even if the numbers weren’t huge early on.
He had 30 points in 51 games as a rookie in 2022-23, then put up 19 goals and 38 points in 71 games the next year. In 2024-25 he looked like he was breaking out with 18 goals and 50 points. But this past season he slumped along with the rest of the Jets, finishing with just 12 goals and 32 points in 68 games.
His two-year deal at $3.25 million is up, so he’s now a real question mark in Winnipeg—who have to decide on a direction as an organization. Will they re-sign Perfetti and bet on him bouncing back, or watch him potentially succeed somewhere else?
For the Devils, he’d be a really good fit. Sure, he’s on the smaller side. However, he’s a skilled left winger who could reach legit top-six potential.
He skates well and plays the game fast, which lines up perfectly with how New Jersey wants to play. His defense can be hit-or-miss, but that’s pretty common with guys who can actually score. With centers like Nico Hischier and Glass, the Devils have the structure to help cover for that.
And if he really figures out how to be an impact top-six forward, who needs to play defense when you’re skating with Jack and Jesper Bratt?
If they can get him at the right price—perhaps there’s a swap involving Simon Nemec—Perfetti would give them another creative scoring threat on the wing and add some much-needed depth up front.
Connor Zary—Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames may tear it down to the studs and there are parts the Devils could use.
Connor Zary is one of those parts as a shooting winger who loves to fire pucks from distance, drive hard to the net, and hunt pucks on the forecheck.
He’s got excellent hands in tight areas and showed a lot more confidence and involvement with the puck all over the ice last season.
Similar to Perfetti, the 24-year-old Zary has seen a small decline in his offense in each of the last two seasons. However, he has the upside of a top-six forward if he can realize his potential.
Zary is on the books for $3.755 million over the next two seasons before he becomes a restricted free agent with arbitration rights in July 2029.
After scoring 12 goals and 25 points for an offensively starved Flames squad, you could see how Zary has the potential to contribute more in a stronger system.
Mavrik Bourque—Dallas Stars
After tearing up the AHL for a couple of years, the Dallas prospect has finally earned a full-time NHL spot. His first real season in 2024-25 was quiet—just 11 goals and 25 points in 73 games. But this year he took off, scoring 20 goals and putting up 41 points in 82 games while earning regular shifts on a top line with Wyatt Johnston and Jason Robertson.
The problem for Dallas is money. They’re buried in cap issues and have to find a way to re-sign Robertson after his huge 96-point season. Something’s got to give, and Bourque could end up being one of the pieces that gets moved to clear space.
Bourque brings a ton of energy and plays a straight-up, north-south game with good speed. He’s not flashy, but he competes hard, finishes checks, and chips in offensively. That kind of reliable, up-tempo style would slide right into New Jersey’s system. Think of him as a more polished version of what the Devils already like in their quicker forwards.
As a restricted free agent this summer, he’s due a decent raise—probably in the $2-3 million range—which is awkward timing for a tight Dallas cap situation and a Robertson extension haging over their heads.
For the Devils, landing Bourque at the right number would be a win. He gives them another fast, hardworking winger who can play up and down the lineup and add secondary scoring without breaking the bank.
