A report has revealed that the New Jersey Devils are one of four teams in the mix for free agent forward Brandon Saad. Saad and the St. Louis Blues mutually agreed to part ways on Wednesday after he went unclaimed on waivers the previous day.
The 32-year-old forward has forfeited over $5 million in salary as part of this agreement. According to insider Frank Seravalli via X, the Devils, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Vegas Golden Knights, and Tampa Bay Lightning, are the top teams to watch as potential destinations for Saad.
Seravalli, speaking through Sports on Prime Canada, provided insight into Saad’s situation and the thought process of potential suitors:
“Brandon Saad believes he still has a lot to offer. He was a 26-goal scorer last year and had a rough start this season. The Blues tried to trade him without finding a taker. Teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs are focused on getting a third-line center and improving down the middle, but if they can add secondary scoring without disrupting their plans for that top priority, they will certainly consider it.”
For the Devils, Tom Fitzgerald has made it clear he’s looking for depth scoring, and Saad wouldn’t require any assets to acquire. The veteran forward could easily outperform some of the Devils’ current bottom-six players and provide the secondary scoring they’ve been lacking. Additionally, he could step up into a higher role alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt if injuries arise.
Saad has struggled this season, registering only seven goals and 16 points in 43 games. A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Chicago Blackhawks, Saad could potentially rebound under better circumstances. The Blues, who are currently outside the playoff picture, are only six points from a spot but have been trending in the wrong direction.
One of the main factors in Saad’s struggles this year is his shooting percentage, which has dropped to 9.3%. He had shot 15% or better in each of the last three seasons, including an 18% rate in 2023-24. This decline could be a key reason for his reduced goal production, as it’s well below his career average of 12.7%.