Which Devils get pushed out of the defense corps to upgrade the back end?

Writer Travis Ryan evaluates which New Jersey Devils defensemen could be moved if general manager Sunny Mehta decides to upgrade the team's blue line. After a 1-2-0 start to the season, potential incoming depth or hypothetical trade targets like Quinn Hughes could necessitate shedding salary and roster spots. Ryan highlights Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Declan Chisholm as three potential candidates who could be pushed out of the defensive rotation.

According to the analysis, moving Hamilton would clear his $9 million cap hit to facilitate major additions, while Siegenthaler carries a manageable $3.4 million contract that could be traded to clear left-side defense space. Chisholm, entering the final year of a $1.6 million deal, faces demotion to a seventh defenseman role once injured players like Siegenthaler and Jonathan Kovacevic are fully integrated.