The New Jersey Devils have a golden opportunity this summer, and it all starts with the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. With the salary cap jumping a massive $8.5 million to $104 million, general managers across the league will be looking to make moves—and the Devils should be right in the thick of it.

Let's be honest: scoring was a major issue last season. The Devils finished 27th in the NHL, averaging just 2.76 goals per game. That's not going to cut it for a team with playoff aspirations. According to scouts who have spoken with New Jersey Hockey Now, the team could also use a boost in size and physicality.

That combination—scoring and size—naturally brings one name to mind: Brady Tkachuk. The Ottawa Senators captain has been the subject of trade rumors, especially after Ottawa's quick first-round exit. But Tkachuk himself has pushed back on the chatter, saying he doesn't understand where the narrative came from. So, unless he becomes officially available, the Devils need to look elsewhere.

Enter the Toronto Maple Leafs. After winning the 2026 Draft Lottery and facing plenty of heat from the Toronto media over their new front office hires—John Chayka as GM and Mats Sundin as senior advisor—the Leafs jumped four spots and now have a shot at top prospects like Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg. But with uncertainty surrounding captain Auston Matthews, the question is: will Toronto tear it down or retool?

At the 2026 trade deadline, the Leafs were shopping Matthew Knies, and the Devils were interested. Nothing came of it then, but both teams have new front offices now, which could change the equation. Toronto needs help on the blue line—something the Devils can provide—while New Jersey needs a top-six winger who can score, play with an edge, and slot in alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.

Knies, entering his age-24 season, fits that description perfectly. He's a power forward with two seasons of NHL experience, and he plays the kind of gritty, high-motor game that the Devils are missing. If the Devils can package that 12th overall pick in a deal for Knies, it could be the move that finally solves their scoring woes and adds the physical presence they've been lacking.