The NHL trade deadline is here. On Friday at 3:00 pm ET all trades need to be reported to the league.
The New Jersey Devils find themselves in an interesting position where they should be sellers based off their minuscule playoff chances, however, do not exactly have many obvious, sellable candidates. With that being said, let’s go through some potential trade pieces and analyze if the Devils should move them or not and also predict whether or not they will actually be dealt.
Dougie Hamilton
There has been Dougie Hamilton trade rumors all season long. It came to a head when Hamilton was a healthy scratch and his agent released a statement insinuating Hamilton and his representatives would work with the team to move one of the more prolific offensive defenseman in the team’s history. However, since then, Hamilton has finally gotten the tangible results he deserves and the trade noise has quieted down.
Prior to Hamilton’s scratch, a lot had been made of the 32-year-old’s play. The traditional numbers weren’t there which lead to a lot of poorly directed criticism. Here is how Hamilton ranked among Devils defenseman on December 30 prior to his healthy scratch:
- Corsi-for percentage: 1st
- Shots-for percentage: 1st
- Scoring chance for percentage: 2nd
- High-danger chance for percentage: 1st
- Expected goals-for percentage: 1st
- Expected goals above replacement: 2nd
- Offensive zone start rate: 8th
Despite all the extremely solid underlying metrics above, he ranked sixth in goals-for percentage which is why he was taking all the heat he was. The reason behind this was a team shooting percentage of 4.93%. That low of a team shooting percentage would make the best of players look poor. That is exactly what was happening to Hamilton.
Funny enough, since that scratch the opinions on Hamilton has largely changed. The shooting percentage has positively regressed and Hamilton has 17 of his 25 points since January 1. The underlying metrics are still strong plus the on-ice impact data shows Hamilton having one of his best defensive seasons of his career (88th percentile on-ice defensive metrics according to Evolving Hockey).
Long story short, Hamilton has been the team’s best defenseman this season and should not be looked upon as a net-negative asset even though he carries a $9 million cap hit. Adequately-ran teams should be lining up for Hamilton’s services at this trade deadline if they can make the money work. Hamilton does carry two more years of the aforementioned $9 million cap hit so the Devils pulling a haul that is exactly worth his play is unlikely, but they should be able to get something back of positive value all together in any trade for Hamilton, especially if there is any type of salary retention.
With that being said, the goal for New Jersey is to compete as soon as next year, as they still have the roster to do so. Moving the team’s best defenseman would go against that philosophy. Add in the fact that Hamilton’s modified no-trade list has seemingly complicated things this season, a trade at the deadline seems unlikely. Once the offseason comes around, all bets are off the table. But, for now, what the Devils should do, and the reality of the situation, makes it seem like a trade will not occur.
Verdict: Keep
Prediction: Not Dealt
Cody Glass
Cody Glass has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing 2025-26 season for the Devils. Over an 82-game schedule Glass is scoring at a 23-goal pace this season. In addition to that, the on-ice metrics are off the charts. Glass’ overall on-ice impacts rank in the league’s 81st percentile this season. The 26-year-old is performing terrifically in a depth center role.
Glass is under contract next season as well for only $2.5 million before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2027. With the acquisition of Nick Bjugstad several seemed to think Glass could become expendable, however, Bjugstad is more of your prototypical fourth line presence rather than a third-liner, which Glass has become.
Again, the goal for the Devils is to be contenders in 2026-27. Moving Glass would go against this goal as he is a perfect, low-cost option to fill that third line center job. If the Devils were to blown away by an offer, say a first-round pick or something along those lines, then yes, you would have to listen. But, if that is not the case, it is best to keep Glass, who has been terrific since the Devils acquired him last season.
Verdict: Keep
Prediction: Not Dealt
Simon Nemec
A report came out on Wednesday courtesy of Pierre LeBrun of the Athletic confirming that the Devils are both, “taking calls on,” and, “they are going to listen,” in regard to the former second-overall pick. Simon Nemec has quickly become a polarizing player.
A shooting-percentage heater with Nemec on the ice this season has risen expectations shy high. However, since that figure started to regress, Nemec only has three points since January 8 and has continued to see his defensive game struggle. On the season, his on-ice defensive impacts sit in the 19th percentile and his 46.26 expected goals-for percentage ranks eighth among nine Devils defensemen to play in at least three games this season.
If you look further prior to this season, Nemec’s 2024-25 was a disaster; his 37.67 xGF% ranked 243rd among 244 defensemen to play 500 minutes of five-on-five ice time. Outside a decent showing in the playoffs against Carolina, it was a strong step back from a 2023-24 debut season where he showed some offensive flashes.
Basically, Nemec’s strong offensive outburst earlier this season was fueled by an unsustainable on-ice shooting percentage. His defensive metrics are still very troublesome and more traditional analytics, which take out shooting percentage heaters, paints a troubling picture. Add this with the idea that Nemec is due a new contract next season as a restricted free agent, if they can move on from the 22-year-old in exchange for an established forward, they should do so.
Coincidentally enough, for those interested, a few weeks back we took a in-depth look on why moving Nemec for the right price would make sense. You can find that article here.
Verdict: Trade
Prediction: Not Dealt
Johnathan Kovacevic
Johnathan Kovacevic, somewhat surprisingly, has been subject to some trade rumors as of late. The right-handed defenseman missed a large chunk of the season rehabbing back from a knee injury suffered last season. Kovacevic has since came back to play, but has struggled mightily.
Across his first 13 games Kovacevic has posted a 43.03 xGF% which ranks 222nd among 246 defensemen to play at least 150 minutes of five-on-five ice time. Coming back from the serious injury he suffered always hinted at this was going to be a possibility. But it is no secret how much the 28-year-old, who has found himself a healthy scratch since the return of Luke Hughes, has struggled.
Interestingly, on the back of his terrific 2024-25 season with New Jersey, general manager Tom Fitzgerald awarded the former Montreal Canadien with a five-year extension worth $4 million annually. The contract also features a no-trade clause, so any prospective trade would need to be approved by the Canadien-born defenseman who played college hockey for Merrimack College.
As mentioned, his 2024-25 season was indeed superb. Across 81 games, and nearly 20 minutes of ice time per night, Kovacevic emerged as one of the best defensive defensemen in the league. His on-ice defensive metrics ranked in the league’s 97th percentile and along with Jonas Siegenthaler, made up the league’s best defense-first pairing.
Given the situation the Devils find themselves in, specifically in regard to the plethora of right-handed defenseman options and potential want to shed some money, it should not be too shocking the team may want to move him. Especially if the right deal comes.
Verdict: Trade
Prediction: Traded
Nick Bjugstad
The Devils just acquired veteran forward Nick Bjugstad February 4 in exchange for a mid-round draft pick and a fizzling prospect. Across the five games played thus far with New Jersey, Bjugstad has not exactly excelled (34.91 xGF%), but the sample size is way too small to read into greatly.
His small sample with New Jersey aside, Bjugstad has typically been a solid bottom-line center who can bring some offensive punch, specifically, by putting the puck in the back of the net (22 goals in 2023-24). He also enjoys throwing around his 6-foot-6 frame and typically fairs decently well on the dot as a center.
At only a cap hit of $1.75 million next season, he should fit into the Devils’ plans next year nicely. Pending any movement, a center group down the middle of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Cody Glass, and Bjugstad is very strong on paper. Given this, flipping Bjugstad, makes little sense despite the reports.
Verdict: Keep
Prediction: Not Dealt