5 players the New Jersey Devils could trade by the deadline

2. Blake Coleman, C

With centers at such a premium in the NHL, a team would likely pay high price at the trade deadline for one in the prime of his career with the possibility of becoming a perennial 20-goal scorer. That center is Blake Coleman, a 28-year-old with just three and a half years of experience in the NHL.

Coleman is an intriguing asset for the Devils as a homegrown talent that was taken in the 2011 draft with the 75th overall pick in the third round. The forward has 15 goals and 23 overall points in 45 games for the Devils this season, making him the team’s second best scorer this season behind Kyle Palmieri. However, at 28-years-old it’s hard to see Coleman growing into anything more than a middle-six player that scores 20 goals per season.

For some teams, that kind of player — especially at the center position — is incredibly valuable. Coleman is also on an extremely friendly contract, as he has one year left on a three-year, $5.4 million deal that has a cap hit of just $1.8 million.

It would likely take a lot to get the Devils to part ways with Coleman at this stage, as the team may see him as an integral part to the team’s upcoming retooling for the future. However, only the Devils’ front office knows how long their retooling may take, and Coleman could be used to acquire draft picks or younger prospects that fit more into the team’s timeline than their 2011 draft pick does.

As a short-term rental, Coleman’s price may be too high for some given his possible future upside, but the Devils may find the assets he’d bring back in a trade more to their liking than his current production to the team.