New Jersey Devils Free Agency Outlook, Potential Fits
By Ryan Ritchie
New Jersey Devils Free Agency Preview/Outlook, Salary Cap Situation, Restricted Free Agents, Team Needs, and Potential Fits
Even with Ryane Clowe and Marc Savard‘s contracts still on the books ($8.877 million dollars against the cap), New Jersey Devils still have a ton of money to spend in free agency. They won’t spend to the ceiling, but they still need to spend a little over $10 million dollars to even reach the floor.
Once they sign restricted free agents Kyle Palmieri, Sergey Kalinin, Beau Bennett, Jacob Josefson, Devante Smith-Pelly, and Reid Boucher, the team should easily exceed the $54 million dollar salary cap floor.
If the Devils look to invest in a big-ticket free agent. Top priority would be a top-six RW upgrade, but a top four left-handed defenseman is also a possibility.
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There is several reasons to be optimistic if you’re a New Jersey Devils fan, even following their 12th place Eastern Conference finish in 2015-16.
The team went 38-36-8 with 84 points, but were in playoff contention for a large part of the season. It wasn’t until star netminder Cory Schneider went down long-term that the wheels began to fall off.
Among the positives to draw on moving forward, RFA acquisition Kyle Palmieri had a monster first year with the Devils.
Young players Sergey Kalinin, Reid Boucher, and Joseph Blandisi were among the breakout performers.
Devante Smith-Pelly fit in beautifully following his deadline deal from the Canadiens.
21-year-old D Damon Severson continues to show development on the back end on his quest to be a quality top four NHL defenseman.
Lastly, Keith Kinkaid was impressive filling in for Cory Schneider and New Jersey will need to think about making a deal with expansion club Las Vegas to potentially protect Kinkaid.
The Devils do have a quality goalie prospect in Mackenzie Blackwood, so perhaps they are prepared to potentially lose Kinkaid.
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New Jersey Devils Free Agency Outlook/Preview
Salary Cap Committed to 2016-17: $43,583,807
Number of Players Signed: 30
Notable Unrestricted Free Agents: Patrik Elias, Tuomo Ruutu, Stephen Gionta, Jordin Tootoo, Jiri Tlusty, Tyler Kennedy, Bobby Farnham, David Schlemko, David Warsofsky, Marc-Andre Gragnani, Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond, Jim O’Brien, Yann Danis, Mike Sislo
Notable Restricted Free Agents: Kyle Palmieri, Sergey Kalinin, Beau Bennett, Jacob Josefson, Devante Smith-Pelly, Reid Boucher, Jon Merrill, Raman Hrabarenka, Reece Scarlett
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As mentioned above, the remaining RFAs will help New Jersey get above the cap floor. They won’t spend to the ceiling, but they should have upwards of $19 million dollars in remaining cap space to spend in free agency.
Not known to be a team to attract big name free agents, or to make the big splash, it might be safe to assume the Devils will have more to offer in terms of money to whomever they choose to target.
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New Jersey Devils Free Agency Team Needs
Top-Six RW, Top-Four LHD Upgrade
With prospects such as Blake Pietila, Miles Wood, and Nick Lappin (among others) vying for roster spots, the New Jersey Devils have fairly solid offensive depth.
The only hole as mentioned is along the right wing – a spot 2016 1st rounder Michael McLeod might eventually be able to fill.
On the blue line, the Devils could use a top four upgrade that shoots left. In a perfect world, one of Yohann Auvitu or Seth Helgeson might eventually slot in there, but it’s unclear how effective either can be in the immediate future heading into 2016-17.
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Potential New Jersey Devils Free Agency Targets
Top-Six RW: David Backes, Teddy Purcell, Loui Eriksson, Kyle Okposo, David Jones, Troy Brouwer, P.A. Parenteau
Top Four LHD Upgrade: Nicklas Grossmann, Kris Russell, Dan Hamhuis
*Salary/Free Agent information was obtained through www.generalfanager.com