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New Jersey Devils: The Devils should consider bringing in Rick Nash

By John Carroll Jr.

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 16: Rick Nash #61 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 Stanley Cup Play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 16, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Nash
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 16: Rick Nash #61 of the Boston Bruins skates against the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game Three of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 Stanley Cup Play-offs at the Air Canada Centre on April 16, 2018 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Bruins 4-2. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Rick Nash /
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The New Jersey Devils are wisely having a quiet offseason. However, they should consider signing Rick Nash before letting him retire.

The New Jersey Devils are not making a ton of head-turning moves this offseason. They are taking the exact approach they should be.

With the heart of their talent mostly younger, they need to be saving cap room and not overpaying for non-home grown guys.

However, there is still a player who is technically a free agent that the Devils should consider bringing in: Rick Nash.

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Although it is beginning to surface that Rick Nash wants to retire. That is the reason he is not putting himself on the market. However, the Devs should be making a hard push to lure him in.

With the Devils, Nash can get everything he wants. He will not need a ton of minutes, he will not have any pressure to be productive and can make himself expendable if he wants out.

The Devils could use Rick Nash too. He is a great veteran presence to all the younger guys. It is discouraging that his desire to play hockey might be gone but he has experienced it all in the NHL.

The pairing makes a lot of sense too because if Nash does decide to play he wants to play for a contender. The Devils, appropriately plan on being contenders. So, every party involved want to be winners.

Rick Nash can help mentor Nico Hischier and the younger group of players and allow reigning MVP Taylor Hall to just play hockey. All the Cup-winning/playing Devils are gone now. Nash has played in a Cup final before in similar circumstances so he knows what it takes.

The Devils are on the rise and are coming off a year where they played better than most thought. They have their future pieces lined up but still need those patchy players who can eat up minutes and help be a good locker room guy.

Nash can be brought in on a short-term deal and will not that expensive. Nash, not that he would take a discount, especially since he does not even really want to play, would still not be that expensive for the Devils who have been smart with their money.

There are not a lot of moving parts here and it is really not that complicated. And although the Devils and New Jersey might not be the most attractive free-agent landing spot they have everything Nash would need.

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Rick Nash can still play hockey if he chooses to do so. The Devils should give him a call and see if he wants to lace them up for the red and black for a season before he officially retires. It just makes too much sense. A pinch of what both him and the Devs want.

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