Three Centers that Would Strengthen the New Jersey Devils “Spine” Before the Trade Deadline

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Heading into the trade deadline, New Jersey has been searching for a center to add to its top nine and help shoulder the offensive load that Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier bring to the ice each night.

That burden got even bigger when Hughes left Sunday night’s game in Vegas early after crashing into the boards with left then two minutes left, holding his right arm. According to an ESPN report, Luke Hughes was “emotional” when he entered the locker room after seeing his brother, who had surgery last April on his right shoulder, once again sustain a potentially serious injury.

The pressure is on in the Metropolitan Division with the Columbus Blue Jacket just four points behind the Devils for that final spot in the top three.

Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils were already in need of another point-producing center on this team, but with Hughes possibly set to miss time on the shelf, here are three players who could fill that role for New Jersey as they head into the final stretch of the regular season.

Ryan Donato, 28, Chicago Blackhawks

• Stats: 59 Games, 45 Points (22 Goals & 23 Assists), 16.5% Shooting Percentage, +/- -7, 44.1% FO%(175/397) and 15:26 T.O.I
• Contract: $2,000,000 AAV through 2024-25

Entering the prime of his career at age 28, Ryan Donato is having a career year playing alongside 2023 1st overall pick Connor Bedard in Chicago this season. For the first time since his junior year at Harvard Donato has a 20 goals season and counting.

Teams across the league have been blowing up Kyle Davidson’s phone, checking in on the availability of Donato just days away from the trade deadline. For a Devils team in desperate need of goal-scoring up and down their lineup, Donato fits what Tom Fitzgerald is looking for, even if he is a pending unrestricted free agent this summer.

This season Donato is in the 98th percentile for finishing and in the 90+ percentile for both 70-80 and 80-90 mile-per-hour shots. The Massachusetts native is also not afraid to throw his body around with 94 hits, on pace for a career-high.

Up to this point in the season, New Jersey has seen Erik Haula, Curtis Lazar and AHL journeyman Justin Dowling fill their bottom six center roles. Combined they have 21 points and just nine goals through three-quarters of the season.

With only a $2 million cap hit, with the potential of retention from the Blackhawks, Donato is the most realistic trade option for New Jersey based on value, production, and cost. He would be my number one option at center for the Devils to acquire.

Ryan O’Reilly, 34, Nashville Predators

• Stats: 57 Games, 36 Points (14 Goals & 22 Assists), 12.5% Shooting Percentage, +/- -20, 56.8% FO%(546/961) and 18:55 T.O.I
• Contract: $4,500,000 AAV through 2026-27

The biggest disappointment in the NHL this season goes to the Nashville Predators. Last offseason they added the likes of top free agents Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Brady Skjei. The Predators have gone from “offseason winners” to potential top-five pick in the draft.

With just days until the NHL trade deadline, general manager Barry Trotz says he’s ready to sell according to multiple reports. “I’ve been making phone calls the last two weeks,” Trotz told the Tennessean in an interview last month. “That’s my job is to field those calls, because of where we are.”

One player who could be available is 34 year old center Ryan O’Reilly. On the 100% Hockey podcast, Trotz said it would take a “significant young player” to trade O’Reilly. Should the Devils be interested in the veteran, Tom Fitzgerald has the ammo and relationship with the Predators organization to pull a deal off.

On paper, you would see that O’Reilly’s production is down but that’s not because he’s playing bad. No on the contrary.

Nashville, with 60 games played, is tied for the worst-scoring team in the league with just 152 goals (2.53 GF/GP). That’s with the additions of key free agents this offseason. It’s no surprise to see O’Reilly’s offensive numbers take a hit this year.

To show that O’Reilly is being held back on the Predators, he would be second to just Hughes (56.9%) on the Devils when you compare “Corsi For %” at even strength with a 55.3%, the highest of his career in a full season. Higher than Hischeir, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier.

Playing on a better team, and contending for a playoff spot, O’Reilly should see a positive regression to his numbers. With Hughes and Hischeir in their mid-20s, the Devils could use a Stanley Cup-winning center to help the spine of their team.

O’Reilly’s 81 playoff games and a friendly contract for the next two seasons would be an expensive trade for Tom Fitzgerald, but potentially a necessary one for the Devils to take the next step.

Shane Pinto, 24, Ottawa Senators (Dark Horse)

• Stats: 48 Games, 25 Points (14 Goals & 11 Assists), 14.7% Shooting Percentage, +/- +8, 50.4% FO%(340/674) and 17:38 T.O.I
• Contract: $3,750,000 AAV through 2025-26

At this year’s deadline, there are just a handful of centers worth acquiring. Of those players, even fewer have years left on their contracts after this season.

Historically Tom Fitzgerald prefers not to trade valuable assists for rentals, so he might have to get creative this week to find a center that fits his criteria. That’s where Shane Pinto could come into play. However unlikely, the conversation between Fitzgerald and Senators general manager Steve Staios should be had.

The Long Island native brings a 200-foot game to the lineup, being able to take faceoffs and contribute on the penalty kill.

Offensively, Pinto hasn’t put up the shiniest numbers, but he can hold his own and score 20 goals every season alongside a contributing linemate or two. Over the past three seasons, Pinto has a “Corsi For %” of 53.9%, meaning the Senators have controlled play more often with him on the ice.

The Devils need more offense in their bottom six and adding Pinto to this lineup, who hasn’t even hit his stride yet in the NHL, would be a good start in Fitzgerlad’s retooling of the roster.

Yes, Ottawa is in a playoff hunt, but a one-for-one swap could benefit both the Senators and Devils. Just think about it, Dawson Mercer playing with Brady Tkachuk and Tim Stützle while Shane Pinto becomes the Devils third line center behind Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.