By Mark Fischer | For NJ Advance Media

Devils general manager Ray Shero has had himself a busy offseason. From selecting Nico Hischier with the No. 1 pick in the NHL Draft to taking advantage of the Washington Capitals' salary cap woes and acquiring all-around forward Marcus Johansson, Shero is putting the Devils in a position to dig themselves out of the basement of the Eastern Conference. While Shero will look to give his younger players a chance to crack the NHL lineup and be everyday players in 2017-18, the Devils could benefit from signing one or two veteran free agents to short-term, stopgap deals in order to sure up the bottom of the lineup. If all else fails, Shero can always flip them for assets at the trade deadline if the Devils fall out of playoff contention. With over $20 million in cap space, here are five free agents the Devils could target during the remainder of the offseason.

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Jean-Yves Ahern | USA TODAY Sports

Andrei Markov (Defenseman)

The Devils struck out on star Kevin Shattenkirk and could still use another defenseman. While Shero's best bet may be to explore the trade route — at the risk of causing a ruckus, center and fan favorite Adam Henrique could potentially fetch a solid return — there are a few solid defensemen still on the free agent market. 38-year-old Andrei Markov has spent his entire 16-year career in Montreal, but appears to be on the move. He plays the left side, and though he reportedly wants a two year deal worth $12 million, perhaps the Devils can convince him to sign on a one-year deal for a little extra money. They have around $20 million in cap space and he'd provide a much-needed offensive presence from the backend. Markov put up six goals and 30 assists last season in 62 games with the Canadiens and would instantly become a powerplay specialist for a team that ranked 22nd out of 30 teams last season. Markov could complement 22-year-old Steve Santini on a pairing as their playing styles would fit well together. Or he can bump John Moore to the third pairing and play alongside Ben Lovejoy.

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Kevin Hoffman | USA Today

Cody Franson (Defenseman)

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Cody Franson won't wow you by any means, but he plays a solid defensive game and would provide stability on the backend. The argument against signing Franson is that he plays the right side, which seems full as of now. Damon Severson is locked into the top pairing, while Ben Lovejoy seems pinned into the middle unit. Based on the Devils being keen on giving their younger guys a shot, it looks like Santini, 22, will at least start his sophomore season with the big club. Would Franson be an upgrade over Lovejoy? Probably, but it comes down to whether it's enough for Shero to sign him.

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Sergei Belski | USA Today

Alex Chiasson (Right wing)

The Devils are no strangers to reclamation projects: Just see the recently departed Beau Bennett. Alex Chiasson, 26, is another low-risk high reward player and could help take the burden off some of the Devils younger players as they continue to adjust to the NHL. One of his biggest knocks is his lack of speed, which could scare off Shero as he tries to build a roster of fast, shifty skaters.

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Chiasson (Continued)

Chiasson put up 12 goals and 12 assists with the Calgary Flames last year in 81 games. His best season came during his rookie year with the Dallas Stars in 2013-14, when he put up 13 goals and 22 assists. Despite all that, though, Chiasson finished a minus-21. He'd come cheap and might be worth a "show your worth" one-year deal.

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Why Devils moved on from Bennett, Cammalleri

GM Ray Shero explains.

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Marc DesRosiers | USA Today

Viktor Stalberg (Left wing)

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Like other players on this list, Viktor Stalberg could give the Devils insurance if younger players like 2016 first round pick Mike McLeod aren't ready to step onto NHL ice full time. Stalberg, a speedy left winger and former New York Ranger (2016), spent last season split between the Hurricanes and Senators, tallying 16 points in 75 games. He'd be a nice fit on the third or fourth line alongside Brian Boyle and would add extra depth to the bottom of the lineup.

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What will Devils' lines, pairings look like in 2017-18?

NJ.com examined on Monday what the Devils' opening night roster could look like

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Robert Mayer | USA Today

Thomas Vanek (Left wing)

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If the Devils were to trade one of their forwards to improve their defense, Thomas Vanek could help replace the offensive production ... and then some. The 33-year-old left wing put up 17 goals and 31 assists in 68 games with Detroit and Florida last season, which would have ranked fourth on the Devils if you include the recently acquired Marcus Johansson (58 points). Vanek had 13 points on the powerplay and could aid the Devils on the man-advantage. What he will seek contract wise is still up in the air. He's coming off a one-year deal that he signed with the Red Wings last summer, but may be seeking more based off the bounce back season he had.

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Mark Fischer may be reached at mfischer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @nhlfisch21. Find NJ.com on Facebook.