3 Players Devils Could Trade Next

The New Jersey Devils surprised a lot of people last season by not only being one of the best regular season teams, but also by making it to the second round of the playoffs. They have a very good young group and in some areas, there won't be enough room for everyone. Soon enough the cap will also become a concern and the Devils will need to cut ties with certain players. Let's take a look at who the Devils could trade next.

Ondrej Palat

Ondrej Palat was looked at as a pretty good signing for the Devils at the time. They brought him in through free agency before last season and since it wasn't expected that they would all of a sudden be Stanley Cup competitors, the $6 million AAV for five years didn't seem bad to have a veteran presence in the locker room. Now that the devils shot up the standings and spots in the lineup are hard to come by, Palat finds himself on the third line and only scored eight goals and 23 points in 49 games last season. I don't think he will make it to the end of his contract in New Jersey, so he could be traded after the season if he once again struggles to stay healthy or doesn't produce up to standard.

Vitek Vanecek

Vitek Vanecek had a solid year for the Devils, but in my eyes, he's not a clear cut number one goalie. He's strong in a tandem, but the Devils have been linked to some legitimate starting goaltenders like Connor Hellebuyck. Vanecek would surely be the goalie going the other way in a deal if the Devils end up making a trade in the next year. They will surely investigate it unless their goalies do very well for them. Akira Schmid is soon to take over the net and Vanecek's money can be better used if that happens.

Nolan Foote

The Devils are deep up front and Nolan Foote might struggle to make the team and find playing time in the NHL. He has put together solid seasons in the AHL the past couple of seasons, but has only played a maximum of seven games for the Devils each of the past three seasons. He is no longer exempt from waivers, so the Devils will have a choice to make with him. He may very well be claimed if he doesn't make the cut, but if he can't find regular playing time in the lineup, he would be a strong trade chip to upgrade by the trade deadline.