Closing out our profiles of unrestricted free agents, today we look at left and right wings, a position where the right addition(s) could make all the difference for next season’s New Jersey Devils.
We’ve already made mention of the fact this summer that the New Jersey Devils forward group just wasn’t good enough last season. While the top names did their part (at least mostly) the depth scoring dried up, resulting in the struggles that plagued the group in the second half of the season and the playoffs. The club will be looking for more forwards who can supplement the core group, and hopefully push a few players down the lineup to increase the talent across the lineup. The Devils absolutely should be in the market for some additions on the wings, and today we look at some of those players.
As it has been, this is not a complete list of all players available, rather just a sampling of who is out there, why they could fit and why they might not as well. There is one thing that we should get out of the way before moving on though.
Mitch Marner’s Mega Millions
Let’s make this quick: Mitch Marner is obviously the biggest forward name set to test unrestricted free agency this summer. There’s going to be a lot of feelings from a lot of fan bases about wanting or not wanting Marner. The long and short of it for the Devils is they absolutely can’t afford him at an expected $13 million per season. With the amount of cap already tied up in long-term deals and raises due to guys coming off of ELCs, Marner is nothing but a pipe dream. Let’s move along to some options that actually could be possible.
Brock Boeser
Boeser is another of the bigger names out there this summer, and if it’s goals you want, it’s goals that Boeser can give you. He’s scored 65 of them over the past two seasons, although more of them (40) came in a more successful 2023-24 for Vancouver than they did in 2024-25. The Devils could use another player on the right side, and Boeser would give them a right handed shot to work with the team’s top two left handed centers.
For the “Devils need size” crowd, Boeser isn’t the biggest body, but he’s not exactly small either. He’s also missed a combined 27 games over the past four seasons, meaning he’s a fairly durable player to boot. Boeser would bring a lot of attributes that Devils fans want to see added to the team, so perhaps it’s worth calling on him as free agency opens to see if he wants to join i on what the Devils are trying to build towards.
AFP Analytics Prediction: 6 years, $8.46 million per season
Why He Could Work: The team’s right wingers positionally are Dawson Mercer and Stefan Noesen. Mercer has been underachieving and Noesen started out hot, but got ice cold the second half of last season. Boeser would give the Devils a more consistent offensive threat to pair with any combination of Hughes, Hischier, Bratt and Meier. As said above, he’s known for his goal scoring, while most of the Devils core sans Meier have a reputation for being more of playmakers. Whether that reputation is true or not, Boeser would help diversify the Devils’ forwards.
Why He Probably Won’t Work: I hate to say money, but the money is probably the biggest hurdle. The Devils aren’t necessarily going to be able to fit another $8 million forward without making some other moves. Maybe the hope is a move is made to free up some salary, but unless that’s the case, any offer the Devils make Boeser can probably be bested by a team with more cap space who does not have a Luke Hughes caliber player needing an extension as well.
Nikolaj Ehlers
A slightly less pricy option (we’ll get there in a second) that could be testing free agency is Nikolaj Ehlers. A Winnipeg Jet for his whole career so far, Ehlers is coming off of back to back 60+ point seasons and has been a pretty consistent scorer most of his career. With 520 points in 674 career contests, Ehlers is another player who can add another dimension of offense to a New Jersey Devils team that is craving it after the disappointment of last season.
Ehlers has been a consistent 20 goal scorer for most of his career, sans one season where he missed half with injury (he still paced for well over 20 across 82 games) and his rookie season. While he will turn 30 in the latter half of 2025-26, there’s no reason to believe his scoring is going to dry up anytime soon.
AFP Analytics Prediction: 6 years, $8.1 million per season
Why He Could Work: Ehlers main difference from Boeser is that he would be an addition to the left side, which could be the move needed to finally push Ondrej Palat out of the Top 6. Any fans who want to see that should be rooting for any talented left wing being added to the team, and Ehlers would definitely satisfy that requirement. He’s another talented player known for his scoring, and again it would allow the Devils to push others down and to be a deeper team.
Why He Probably Won’t Work: Boy is there a recurring theme in this article. The Devils could make moves that would free up the needed space for Ehlers, and if they’re serious about making changes to the extent they implied after their playoff elimination, they might have to. The only other way he’s not a fit is if the current staff sees Palat is integral to the Top 6; if that’s the case, and if that’s the case, we have bigger things to worry about than the cost of free agents.
Jonathan Drouin
Boy have the Colorado Avalanche done wonders for the stock of Jonathan Drouin. Originally a selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Drouin turned in a strong 2016-17 for them before being dealt to Montreal. He struggled throughout his time with them, though there were other issues he’s discussed that were affecting him. Upon his arrival in Colorado, he returned to that 2016-17 form, with 56 points in 79 games. He was pacing for 70 points this season (37 in 43 games) but missed a chunk of the season from November through December, and also some games at the end of the regular season.
While his career stalled a bit, he’s looking more and more like the player that Tampa traded rather than the one that played for Montreal. If Drouin can continue to build upon his strong past couple of seasons, he could be a strong asset for the Devils should they choose to pursue him and he choose to sign.
AFP Analytics Prediction: 3 years, $5 million per season
Why He Could Work: He’s a more cost effective acquisition and could do well as a role player in the Devils Top/Middle 6. He would definitely bring more talent and, like the others discussed prior, would push other guys down in the lineup. This is another lefty option to push Palat down as well.
Why He Probably Won’t Work: Drouin isn’t really a goal scorer, with only 107 across 607 contests. He’s a good playmaker, but the team is looking for depth scoring and really should be shopping for guys who can put the puck in the net. Drouin would increase the overall team talent, but without more guys around him to put passes into the net, his point totals would probably regress.
Quick Thoughts on Some Other UFA Wings
Joel Armia is a guy who has found a role in the league as a Bottom 6 guy with size. He’s contributed 28 goals over the past two seasons for Montreal. He’s not exactly producing a whole lot more than many of the players the Devils already have, but 11 goals last season is still better than a lot of guys the Devils rolled on the fourth line.
Andrew Mangiapane is another guy who’s good for roughly 15 goals per season, but that’s a far cry from his 35 in 2021-22 with Calgary. He seems to have found a good role with Washington, but unless the Devils are hoping he rediscovers that 21-22 magic, I’d steer clear as his point totals continue to decline.
Just a year removed from a 26 goal season is Brandon Saad, who a lot of fans wanted when he hit waivers in St. Louis earlier this year. His numbers fell off a cliff before he was waived, but he signed with Vegas for the rest of the season where he posted a respectable .48 points per game, a nice jump from his .37 in the first half of the season with the Blues. If Saad plays for the Devils like he did for the Knights, he’d be a worthwhile pickup.
Want to flip a coin this summer? Well then why not go after Andrei Kuzmenco? Traded twice last season, Kuzmenco was average for the Flames with 15 points in 37 games. He would suit up for Philadelphia for seven games, where he accrued five points before arriving in Los Angeles and contributing 17 points in 22 contests. Kuzmenco would be good at the right price, and hopefully it is Philly/LA Kuzmenco who arrives and not Calgary Kuzmenco.
Evgeni Dadanov was a 20-20 guy for the Dallas Stars this season; while there are rumors that another winger could be available, Dadanov would be a good middle of the lineup player that would come in at a much lower cost. A bit older of a player now, but if the Devils feel he still has some gas in the tank, it wouldn’t hurt to inquire.
Anthony Beauvillier had a nice rebound season between Pittsburgh and Washington and could be a good middle/bottom of the lineup acquisition. He’s another one who might not want to leave his current situation though.
Final Thoughts and Your Take
Again, there are quite a few names available beyond the list above and the Devils should be shopping for some players to bolster the lineup. I would love Ehlers or Boeser in New Jersey, but unless someone is moved to make room for them, and/or Luke Hughes signs a bridge deal, I just don’t know if I see the fit. For that reason, the Devils might be looking at options other than the premier names.
What are your thoughts on the options for left and right wings in unrestricted free agency; is there any particular name you want to see the team add? Are there any players not discussed here that are UFAs that you would like them to inquire about? Would you prefer one larger name added or a few less pricy players to spread out the depth? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!