5 players the New Jersey Devils could trade by the deadline

1. P.K. Subban, D

Of the Devils’ big names, P.K. Subban’s is no doubt the brightest in terms of star power. New Jersey made a blockbuster trade with Nashville for the 30-year-old defenseman in the offseason, but Subban has yet to deliver for the Devils.

In 45 games played this season, Subban has just 10 points and has not looked like his confident, aggressive self out on the ice this year. Subban seems to be trying to do too much for the Devils, and his play has since suffered for it. While Subban is now on the wrong side of 30, there’s still belief that he can return to his Norris Trophy winning ways where he played at nearly a point-per-game pace.

Subban, however, commands a $9 million cap hit through the 2021-22 season, a steep price for a trade deadline acquisition. Most of the NHL’s big deals are made either in the offseason or well before the trade deadline where there is no pressure to get a deal done in time. Subban would be a difficult asset to trade, though the Devils could cushion some of that blow by retaining some of his salary.

There is not a no-move or no-trade clause on Subban’s current contract either, meaning the Devils are free to shop him as they choose. Doing so would mean giving up on him — and the assets they gave up for him last season — but nothing seems to be off the table for New Jersey given how their season has gone so far this year.

An unlikely move, to be sure, but Subban is no doubt a name the Devils could move this trade deadline if given the right deal.

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