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Now 51 games into their season, the New Jersey Devils find themselves four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the Metropolitan Division lead. The Devils' 72 total points rank third in the entire NHL, behind only the Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins.
The Devils have enjoyed impressive seasons from their young stars Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt. Now, the New Jersey Devils find themselves on the verge of a playoff birth for the first time since 2018.
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While New Jersey has assembled a core that will help them become perennial playoff contenders, management may want to capitalize on the opportunity this year.
The Devils' roster is solid, but General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has made it known that the team wants to bring in a top-six forward, with Timo Meier topping the list.
#1 Timo Meier has been linked to the New Jersey Devils all season
Following the trade of Bo Horvat to the New York Islanders, Timo Meier became the top trade target for several teams looking to bolster their offense. Through 51 games played this season, Meier has scored 28 goals and racked up 20 assists.
The 26-year-old pending restricted free agent has a qualifying offer valued at $10 million, and it appears that the San Jose Sharks may be unwilling to sign the forward to such a lucrative extension.
Through 445 games with the Sharks, Meier has recorded 151 goals and 161 assists, totaling 312 points.
#2 Ryan O'Reilly, St. Louis Blues
If the New Jersey Devils are unable to land Timo Meier, Ryan O'Reilly of the St. Louis Blues is another forward linked to the club. The talented forward has enjoyed a successful NHL career and would be useful to any club that can pry him away from the Blues.
Through 324 games with St. Louis, O'Reilly has recorded 95 goals and 171 assists while also helping the Blues win the 2018-19 Stanley Cup.
#3 Brock Boeser, Vancouver Canucks
After breaking out early in his NHL career, Brock Boeser has struggled in recent years with both production and health. However, at only 24 years old, the talented winger of the Vancouver Canucks could be an interesting trade target for the Devils.
Not only has Boeser proven that he can score at the NHL level, but his age fits perfectly with the New Jersey Devils' core. While he has failed to produce much for Vancouver this season, he is a prime candidate to benefit from a change of scenery.
