Many New Jersey Devils fans have been clamoring for GM Tom Fitzgerald to make the big move to show the organization is serious about winning next season, and they almost got their wish by way of the Seattle Kraken.<\/p>\n
The keyword, of course, is almost. It takes two to tango in the NHL, especially in this offseason’s dry climate, and the Kraken were not willing partners.<\/p>\n
According to Rob Simpson of Seattle Hockey Insider, the Devils were at least one of the teams informed by the Kraken that star forward Jared McCann was not available via trade.<\/p>\n
“Seattle Hockey Insider has learned without question that the New Jersey Devils were at least one NHL team told by the Seattle Kraken earlier this summer that forward Jared McCann was unavailable,” Simpson reported<\/a> on Seattle Hockey Insider Tuesday.<\/p>\n Further to that point, Simpson also connected the Devils’ interest in McCann to Dawson Mercer’s<\/a> struggles, with the latter falling well short of expectations in each of the last two seasons.<\/p>\n “The Devils are a logical choice and showed interest due to the fact they\u2019re in desperate need of a consistent top-6 forward who has the ability to play the middle<\/a>,” added Simpson. “Young Dawson Mercer hasn\u2019t completely panned out near the top of the line-up despite a very hot start to his career in 2021-\u201922.”<\/p>\n With Mercer slowing down rapidly, Devils fans have been eager to trade<\/a> the 23-year-old for a more proven, higher-value asset with the goal-scoring instincts the team craves at each of the three forward positions.<\/p>\n Jared McCann checks all the boxes, and that is exactly why he won’t be leaving Seattle anytime soon.<\/p>\n