New Jersey Devils Keep Nathan Bastian and Michael McLeod

The New Jersey Devils continue their busy off-season. After not qualifying Nathan Bastian and Michael McLeod on Friday, making them unrestricted free agents, the Devils were able to work out new deals with both players at the start of free agency.

Two-thirds of the BMW Line is back together as Miles Wood will test free agency. The Devils re-signed Nathan Bastian to a two-year deal worth $2.7 million. The contract carries an AAV of $1.35 million. While Michael McLeod signed a one-year deal worth $1.35 million.

Both players have been joined at the hip since coming into the league. The Devils drafted both players out of Mississauga in the 2016 NHL Draft. McLeod was taking 12th overall in 2016, while Bastian was taking 41st overall that year. Outside of the stint in Seattle, both McLeod and Bastian have played together since being called up.

Around Full Press Hockey

NHL: Vegas Golden Knights Crowned Stanley Cup Champions

NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Devils Remain Interested In Adding Connor Hellebuyck

NHL: 2023 NHL Offseason: Top 10 NHL Free Agents

NFL: Best Bets For 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year

Full Press Bets: Odds Favor The Avalanche To Repeat As Stanley Cup Champions

PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 63: Vegas Golden Knights Win Stanley Cup

The Devils were unsure how things were going to play out. It is always tough when you do not qualify your players. However, this was the plan all along to get them in under cost and inside the salary hierarchy Tom Fitzgerald was building.

It has been a struggle for McLeod entering the NHL but he finally found his role last season with the Devils. He was one of the best faceoff men in the league taking draws in the offensive and defensive zone. And his faceoff percentage is only trending up. He finished with a career-best 60.64 winning percentage in the dot. That is up over the previous two seasons where he was in the high 50s. McLeod added 26 points (four goals and 22 assists) in 80 games. He also added six points in 12 playoff games.

Bastian continues to find a role as a big tough guy on the fourth line. But he is not an enforcer. He plays with speed and size. When he first came back over from Seattle the Devils used him on the power play as a net-front presence. They have continued to use him there, but again Bastian is a tough guy that has skill. And you have to win with four lines as Vegas shows. In 43 games this season he had 15 points (six goals and nine assists).

RFA defenceman Kevin Bahl got qualified by the Devils while Jesper Boqvist did not and could not agree on a new contract hit the open market on Saturday,