NHL Rumors: Latest on New Jersey Devils Free Agents

Over the last couple of seasons, the NHL Rumors have swirled around the New Jersey Devils and the players they have been linked to. That will again be the case this offseason. Except this time it is about their own players in-house and who they may try to add to fill and strengthen the areas of need.

The New Jersey Devils had a successful season under general manager Tom Fitzgerald, who was even impressed by the team’s performance this season. Fitzgerald thought this team would contend for a wild card spot not finish second in the division. The Devils defeated their Hudson River Rivals the New York Rangers in seven games before losing to the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round in five games.

While it was a disappointing ending to the season, the Devils made real progress this season. Even last year as well. Like it was last year, the Devils were the talk of the NHL Rumors world. Last year, Fitzgerald added veteran players with playoff experience in Ondrej Palat, John Marino, Erik Haula, and Brendan Smith. He also upgraded the goaltending with Vitek Vanecek.

While some thought Fitzgerald might not have a busy offseason like in years past, that is in fact not the case. Or as Lee Corso would say not say fast. The Devils general manager has his work cut out for him, especially with two of his restricted free agents. Not to mention the unrestricted free agents he may or may not sign. And the hockey trades he likes to make.

The Devils had a great season, but the real work begins for the franchise this offseason to follow it up again next year.

Time to Dive into the NHL Devils Rumors.

NHL Rumors: Devils Have Work To Do

It Starts with Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt

Jack Hughes during his locker clean out made it clear to his teammates (Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt) that it is time to put up or shut up when it comes to re-signing in New Jersey. Like Fitzgerald, Hughes believes there is a bright future ahead. And he is right.

“I’m not like GM by any means,” Hughes said. “It’s not up to me, but I think I know they want to come back. At the same time, you gotta get it done, too. You can’t just talk about wanting to be in New Jersey, if you want to be in New Jersey you got to just sign the deal you know? So those guys are obviously big parts of our team and we’d like to have them back.”

Jesper Bratt

Let’s start with Bratt. The last couple of contract negotiations have not gone smoothly. Though he has signed an extension each time, the process takes a long time. Bratt is coming off back-to-back 73-point seasons. However, only recorded six points in 12 playoff games for the Devils. He will be looking to make close to what Jack Hughes is making. Bratt is also confident he will be back with the team.

“I have full confidence in my agent and Tom (Fitzgerald) that we’ll get (my contract) done,” Bratt said. “We’ll get it done. I’ll see you guys for the next couple of years to come.”

While he is saying the right things, he is not afraid of going to arbitration to get what he wants. And Fitzgerald wants to follow the models of other teams with internal salary caps. Thus Bratt may not get what he wants and will have to settle for less or be moved out.

Contract negotiations have been going on since November. Fitzgerald noted he paused contract negotiations with Bratt during the playoffs. He also noted the player knows the framework of the deal and there is a deal to be made if Bratt wants to make it. And while Fitzgerald believes the player wants to be in New Jersey long-term, he was not afraid to state, “Even though the Devils do not have a first-round pick does not mean he can’t get one.” This is a clear reference to Bratt and the current framework that is on the table and in his court.

Timo Meier

As for Meier, Fitzgerald has reached out to the agent of RFA forward Timo Meier about a long-term contract extension. Originally, Fitzgerald wanted Meier to focus on his hockey and adjusting to new his new surroundings before talking about his new deal. He wants players that want to be in New Jersey and he believes that the Devils are a great fit for Meier long-term. They’ll go through the process and hopefully work something out.

Remember if a long-term deal can’t be reached, the Devils could sign him to a one-year deal at his qualifying offer of $10 million. However, that is a scenario they want to avoid. The best-case scenario is getting him signed long-term. Meier wants around $9-$9.5 million. Fitzgerald will do his best to get him under that and closer to Jack Hughes of $8 million a season on a cap hit.

If the Devils were to trade Meier, they will hope to get a similar return to what they paid up to get him. But you do not give up that much for the player not to re-sign or have the intention of not re-signing him to make that trade at the deadline.

Erik Haula

Erik Haula has made it clear he wants to be back in New Jersey as he stated after the Devils lost in Game 5 to Carolina.

“We’ll be back, hopefully, I’ll be back here to put this jersey on again,” Haula said. “I have faith in this team, I’d love to be here and be part of it. I think it’s going to be a bright future and I want to be a part of it.”

During his exit interview, Haula doubled down with those comments.

“I don’t want to play for any other team and I want to come back here,” Haula said. “I was in Tom Fitzgerald‘s office this morning saying he wants to stay here and wants to get something done as soon as possible.”

Haula made it clear to Fitzgerald on his contract, “Let’s get it done.”

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As for contract talks, Fitzgerald stated those talks have not begun yet. However, he is a player he wants to keep on the team.

“Well, I’ll start by saying I would think that trade seven days a week, twice on Sunday,” Fitzgerald said about making the trade. “He was and he is the player type that we needed to help us continue to move the ship forward. Yep, he wasn’t hiding how much he wants to come back. I told him and his agent ‘I will sit down, we will talk.'”

According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, Haula’s next contract could carry a salary cap hit of $3.5 million. That is doable for the Devils.

Damon Severson and Ryan Graves

With Luke Hughes entering the lineup in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Carolina Hurricanes and playing as well as he did, he secured his spot for next season. Now he has some work to do defensively, but it has made Damon Severson or Ryan Graves expendable.

Graves was unsure what his future holds with the organization. He knows there is a business side to things so he will what happens.

As for Severson, he did not say much about his contract going forward. However, Fitzgerald will speak with their agents to see where things stand, but like both players, he kind of indicated both men may have played their last games as a member of the New Jersey Devils. Considering what is in the pipeline with Simon Nemec, Fitzgerald might be right.

Severson and Graves will get offers. Especially Severson, who has been coveted by other teams. His name constantly comes up in NHL Rumors. According to Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, he could get $6.1 million a season. And despite what the fans think, Severson did not play badly this season, you could make the case he was the Devils best defenceman in the playoffs. But if that is the number, the Devils probably will have to let him walk.

The Rest of the Crop of Free Agents

One player that was not mentioned was Miles Wood. Wood is an unrestricted free agent and despite having a decent year, despite his poor penalty habits, he was a key piece to the Devils fourth line. However, as with Severson and Graves, Wood is probably on his way out.

As for the restricted free agents, Mackenzie Blackwood is an interesting case. With the emergence of Akira Schmid, Blackwood is most likely on his way out as well. Blackwood will either not be qualified or traded.

Of the rest of the RFAs which include Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian, Yegor Sharangovich, Jesper Boqvist, and Kevin Bahl, you can expect McLeod, Bastian, and Bahl all to be back. McLeod has come into his own as one of the best faceoff men in the league and found his role on the team as either a third or fourth-liner center. Bastian is a perfect compliment for McLeod. Again another player has found a role and a home in New Jersey.

As for Bahl, he has shown he is a crucial part of the defence moving forward. His physicality was on display in the playoffs. He is using his body frame the right way and still is developing into the play the Devils thought he would be when they traded for him.

What to do with Yegor Sharagovich and Jesper Boqvist. Boqvist has found a role as well on the team on the third line. However, he is one of those players that usually comes out of the lineup especially if he isn’t performing well. But this season Boqvist took a major stride. As for Sharangovich, he had a down year compared to last year and was very inconsistent, it is quite possible he is traded considering he has arbitration rights.

The Devils have a shade over $34 million to work with but that can go quickly, especially with the bigger names to be signed. Not to mention, the players either sign in free agency or acquire. And while Fitzgerald says he is happy with the goaltending that does not mean they are looking to upgrade. Especially with Connor Hellebuyck on the block. So that eats into the salary cap. Oh yeah, let us not forget, the Devils can start negotiating Dawson Mercer‘s new deal this year. Mercer will be due a nice pay raise.

Again that money can go quickly. But like most teams, the Devils expect the cap to go up. Those making their contracts and cap hits a little more “team friendly,”

That does it for this edition of NHL Rumors featuring the New Jersey Devils.