from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

They have essentially no projected cap space, and there are nearly three months to go until the March 3 deadline hits, but if the Devils are in position to go for it, if the organization that’s been out of the playoffs nine of the past 10 years doesn’t feel like waiting in line, then who would they go after on the rental market?

A big-time goal-scorer such as Patrick Kane or Vladmir Tarasenko to play with Jack Hughes, or a lock-down center such as Jonathan Toews or Ryan O’Reilly to anchor the third line?

If the hierarchy wants to strike, if the first two months have not represented a mirage, the Devils surely have the assets to make a splash. Defensemen Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec — fourth-overall in 2021 and second-overall in 2022, respectively — would be off-limits...

more on the above topic plus others like this...

- So is Mitch Marner, who entered the weekend riding a franchise record 21-game point-scoring streak, the best player to have been selected fourth-overall in an NHL draft, and the answer to the question is a somewhat surprisingly resounding no — not unless the Toronto winger has surpassed Steve Yzerman … or Clark Gillies … or Ron Francis … or …

It was obviously a quirk, not a feature, but over the 12 amateur/entry drafts conducted from 1972-83, seven future Hall of Famers were selected fourth overall. Then two others made it to the Hall out of the four-hole in the 1990s.

Ranking the Fourths: 1. Yzerman (19830; 2. Francis (1981); 3. Lanny McDonald (1973); 4. Paul Kariya (1993); 5. Gillies (1974); 6. Mike Gartner (1979); 7. Steve Shutt (1972); 8. Larry Murphy (1980); 9. Roberto Luongo (1997).

- I’m kind of getting the idea that the Senators might not have won the summer. Anyone with me?