Offseason Report: New Jersey Devils

From July 16-Aug 16, we’ll be profiling all 30 NHL teams by recapping what they did this offseason and previewing their upcoming campaigns.

2011-12 season

48-28-6, 102 points, fourth in the Atlantic Division, sixth in the Eastern Conference. Beat Florida in the Conference quarterfinals (4-3), Philadelphia in the semis (4-1), New York Rangers in the finals (4-2).

Lost to Los Angeles in the Stanley Cup finals (4-2).

Additions

Krys Barch

Departures

Zach Parise, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Taormina, Eric Boulton

2012 Draft

First round, 29th overall — Stefan Matteau (US National Team Development Program)

Looking back

New Jersey’s offseason has been defined by what was lost rather than what was retained. In Parise, the Devils lost their captain and three-time leading scorer — a departure that overshadowed some key re-signings by Lou Lamoriello.

Getting Martin Brodeur back (after his brief flirtation with free agency) was huge. Last year’s playoff run proved the 40-year-old is still an elite netminder, and re-inking backup Johan Hedberg will go a long way in keeping Brodeur fresh throughout the 2012-13 season.

Lamoriello also re-upped with Bryce Salvador, the unlikely postseason scoring hero, on a tidy three-year, $9.5 million deal. Solid value for a veteran presence that’s durable and can play over 20 minutes a night. LouLam then signed RFA defenseman Mark Fayne to a two-year, $2.6 million deal, more good value for a guy that played in all 82 regular season (17 points) and 24 playoff games (three points) for the Devils last year.

Finally, there was the shrewd move of bringing back New Jersey’s dynamic fourth line from the Stanley Cup run — Stephen Gionta, Steve Bernier and Ryan Carter. The line combined for 21 points in 24 playoff games with a plus-11 rating.

Looking forward

The Devils have over $14 million in cap space and are just above the floor, but the team’s uncertain financial future could prevent them from spending. There’s also the issue of a thinned-out free agent market that just saw its last semi-marquee name — Alex Semin — ink with Carolina on a whopping one-year, $7 million deal.

Lamoriello’s on record saying “you don’t replace a Zach Parise,” suggesting he’ll look within the organization to fill the offensive void. Calder nominee Adam Henrique will likely be tagged as one to claim a bigger role and expand on his point production, and the Devils will benefit from a full season of both Travis Zajac (just 15 regular season games last year) and Marek Zidlicky (22) in the lineup.

Have your say

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