NHL Rumors: New Jersey Devils, Washington Capitals, and the Ottawa Senators

Devils Offer Defensemen, Capitals Seek Scoring, Senators Blame Goaltending

Sports analyst Elliotte Friedman recently offered insights into several Eastern Conference NHL teams currently outside the playoff picture. While some teams are looking to sell assets, others are still hoping to bolster their rosters.

During a discussion, Mike Rupp expressed concern regarding the playoff outlook for teams like Washington and Ottawa, suggesting their situations have notably worsened. He also mentioned teams like New Jersey, which he believes are effectively out of contention and about whom little trade buzz had surfaced until recently.

Friedman confirmed that more information has emerged regarding the New Jersey Devils this week. He indicated that the Devils are making many of their defensemen available for trade. Initially, he heard that all their defensemen were on the market except Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce. He later noted that Pierre LeBrun reported Simon Nemec was also available, a claim Friedman believes to be accurate. While a deal would need to be suitable, the Devils are not ruling out trades for these players.

The Washington Capitals, according to Friedman, have generally been cautious in their approach. They openly acknowledge their struggle to score goals and are actively seeking to acquire another offensive player. This need is critical for the team, though finding the right fit can be challenging.

Regarding the Ottawa Senators, Friedman mentioned they had explored options for players like MacKenzie Weegar and Rob Thomas. However, a key takeaway for Ottawa is their strong belief that their goaltending was their primary downfall this season. They see themselves as a better team than their performance suggested, attributing their struggles to subpar goaltending. As a result, the Senators are hesitant to dismantle their current roster unless presented with an exceptionally compelling reason.