Devils’ depth-center plan points to Shane Wright if a key pivot does not materialize

The New Jersey Devils are continuing to evaluate how to fill a recurring need in the middle of their lineup: reliable secondary-center production and structural depth beyond their top options. In a Devils-centric round-up posted July 6, writers argued that the statistical profile of Shane Wright, particularly around production pace, shot danger, and skating metrics, makes him a defensible target if an alternative plan involving Nicklas Hayton does not play out.

The same discussion characterizes the fit as more than just a prospect name. It frames Wright as a way to address a specific roster hole, with the goal of strengthening both scoring and the day-to-day stability that comes from having an extra center capable of creating offense and managing matchups. The argument is rooted in the idea that Wright can contribute in the exact category the Devils appear to want to supplement.

The round-up also adds a player-control and cap-context angle. It describes a pathway that would include four years of team control while landing at a stated cap hit of $886,666, positioning Wright as an option that could be “at a fraction” of that figure compared with other potential routes. Importantly, this is presented as contingent planning rather than a confirmed deal, with the writers explicitly tying the logic to whether the Hayton scenario falls through.

Beyond the roster-building talk at the NHL level, the same July 6 Devils links post includes a separate AHL theme, emphasizing the importance of development and the role the organization plays through Utica. It points to comments attributed to Sunny Mehta that frame the AHL as a top priority for his approach, and the discussion ties that priority back to the Devils’ broader pipeline and how depth players learn to translate skills to pro games.

The round-up also referenced broader contract context around New Jersey, including an analysis of Jack E. Hischier’s extension and what the deal means for both sides moving forward. While that is not directly tied to the center-depth question, it underscores that the Devils’ offseason evaluation is happening on multiple timelines at once, with long-term core security running alongside short-term lineup needs.

Taken together, the picture that emerges from this July 6 compilation is one of contingency planning. The Devils are not simply scouting talent in isolation, they are mapping individual player profiles to specific needs they believe they can solve, including center depth, skating-driven two-way impacts, and cost-controlled team control.

What to watch next is whether the Hayton pathway is resolved in a way that changes New Jersey’s priorities. If it does not, the organization’s interest in a center like Wright would become easier to understand as a direct response to a defined problem. If the Hayton option does go forward, the Devils may pivot to different internal targets for secondary scoring and depth, potentially shifting what “fixing the roster hole” looks like in practice.