New Jersey Devils

I was thinking about the Devils, and the fact that they have a lot of cap space this summer to sign someone decent to fill that top 6 role that the Devils are missing right now. The UFA list really isn't super deep this year. I would say the only people maybe worth consideration are Horton and maybe Derek Roy. That's not much of a choice exactly. The most significant UFA is Jarome Iginla, who is up there in years and probably not much of an option for the Devils. All that said, the cap is going down, and there are going to be a lot of teams up against the cap. With the cap constraints, salary dumps will be less plausible than in years past. I am guessing more than a few guys will be bought out this summer using an amnesty buyout. As a result, the UFA market might be a bit better than it appears. People being bought out doesn't mean that they aren't NHL caliber players. It simply means their team will be up against the cap, and their contract is hamstringing their team. A few years ago, would the Devils fans have been happy to keep Rolston at half his cap hit? Maybe so. Ill start with the one most relevant to the Devils. Anton Volchenkov: At 4.5 million per, and his declining play, I would argue hes the most obvious choice. I think most fans would support this. I feel he could be replaced internally by one of our better D prospects. If not, someone cheaper on the UFA market could do the same thing, say, Douglas Murray. ... Next I would like to mention some guys who I think are at risk of being bought out on other teams. Admittedly, I am not an expert on these teams. I know a little more than the casual fan about other teams, but I don't exactly frequent their SBNation pages to know every little dynamic, their prospects, etc. That said, from the outside these guys might be in the cross-hairs. ... Dany Heatley: His actual salary isn't bad at 5 million, but his cap hit is 7.5 for the remaining season he has is questionable. His play has declined for the last few years. With Voldemort and his sleepover buddy hogging up a nice chunk of cap space in the land of 10,000 lakes, the Wild are up against it. They have just over 9 million of cap space next year to sign, by my count, 2 forwards, 2 D, and Backstrom. Even if Backstrom takes a pay cut (lets say 5 per, as opposed to the 6 he makes now) that leaves them 4 million for 4 players.. Adding 7.5 million in cap space, for 5 million in actual cash loss is a decent option. For the right price, this is someone I wouldn't mind having on the Devils to see if he could get it back together. He and Kovy were said to be close friends, and were often line mates in Atlanta. That was ages and some off-ice trouble ago, but at 32, I think a change of scenery could be what he needs. Hes got some left. Ilya Bryzygalov: All tiger blood and bear jokes aside, the guy hasn't earned a penny of his contract. By many accounts, hes a locker room distraction with his antics. The Flyers have maybe 2.5 million of cap space this coming year if you figure Pronger is gonna be LTIR again. While it would appear they have plenty of guys under contract, one would think that after a finish like this year they might want to make some changes. If not this year, than the following year they have some interesting RFAs in Giroux, Schenn, Couturier, and Mason. Matt Read is a UFA then too. All would be due raises I think. Admittedly they would have a lot of salary off the books in 2014 with the departure of Meszaros and Timmonen, but those guys would need replaced as well. Bryz is just plain a bad contract. Marty retiring or not, I don't know that I would want this guy on my team but someone might. Brad Richards: This guy is under fire in the media as of late. Its a lot of speculation, but some people think hes on his way out. Like Bryz, hes signed to eternity with a contract not unlike Kovalchuks. Only Kovalchuk kinda produces, Richards hasn't. When's the last time most teams sat or 4th lined someone who makes almost

In trying to figure out what would be a reasonable set of terms for Adam Henrique's next contract, I find 23 forwards who were similarly productive in their first two NHL seasons and list their first contracts after their ELC for comparison purposes.

For those looking forward to the draft, this post will continue to look at the possible draft selection for the New Jersey Devils in the 2013 draft that is taking place in Newark.I look at a WHL prospect similar to Mike Green.

New Jersey Devils & Related Hockey Links for 5/2/413

A year ago, Stephen Gionta and Ryan Carter were helping the Devils reach the Stanley Cup Finals. This season, the Devils failed to make the playoffs, but Gionta and Carter made the best of the disappointment by helping the U.S. win the bronze medal in the IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Finland. The bronze was the first medal for the U.S. in the world championships since it also captured bronze in 2004. “It was a fun tournament and, obviously, it helps coming home with something,” Gionta said today. “The ultimate goal is the make the (NHL) playoffs and play in that, but to go over and represent USA and come home with the first medal since ’04 was pretty cool and definitely something that I enjoyed.” Gionta played right wing and Carter played on the left side on a line with Tampa Bay’s Nate Thompson as their center. “They put us together from Day 1 and they actually kept all the lines together and we seemed to form some good chemistry throughout the tournament,” Gionta said. “A lot of games in a short time, but it was definitely fun.” Gionta and Carter already had chemistry from playing as linemates with the Devils. Gionta plays center on that line with Steve Bernier as the right wing. “That definitely helps,” Gionta said of playing with Carter. “We know how each other plays and you put someone like Thompson between us and he’s a great player as well. We had success.” In 10 games, Gionta had three goals and no assists. “I got a few lucky bounces, I guess,” Gionta said. “It was nice to contribute offensively.”

Ryan Hartman was one of the two draft eligible skaters at the 2013 WJC in Ufa, Russia in January. This profile looks at his style of play and what he could bring to the team that drafts him in June.

A year ago, Stephen Gionta and Ryan Carter were helping the Devils reach the Stanley Cup Finals. This season, the Devils failed to miss the playoffs, but Gionta and Carter made the best of the disappointment by helping the U.S. win the bronze medal in the IIHF World Championships in Sweden and Finland. The bronze was the first medal for the U.S. in the world championships since it also captured bronze in 2004. “It was a fun tournament and, obviously, it helps coming home with something,” Gionta said today. “The ultimate goal is the make the (NHL) playoffs and play in that, but to go over and represent USA and come home with the first medal since ’04 was pretty cool and definitely something that I enjoyed.” Gionta played right wing and Carter played on the left side on a line with Tampa Bay’s Nate Thompson as their center. “They put us together from Day 1 and they actually kept all the lines together and we seemed to form some good chemistry throughout the tournament,” Gionta said. “A lot of games in a short time, but it was definitely fun.” Gionta and Carter already had chemistry from playing as linemates with the Devils. Gionta plays center on that line with Steve Bernier as the right wing. “That definitely helps,” Gionta said of playing with Carter. “We know how each other plays and you put someone like Thompson between us and he’s a great player as well. We had success.” In 10 games, Gionta had three goals and no assists. “I got a few lucky bounces, I guess,” Gionta said. “It was nice to contribute offensively.”

It's a given that the New Jersey Devils should retain the services of impending unrestricted free agent and legendary Devil Patrik Elias. But how much should he get? To figure that out, I compare his stats against other over-36 year old forwards.

New Jersey Devils & Related Hockey Links for 5/22/13

Ryan Pulock is a defenseman with a monster shot and good awareness/playmaking skills on the ice. Is he the type of defender that the Devils might be willing to go after instead of a forward for their offensively-challenged system?