After coming over in mid-February from the Toronto Maple Leafs, defenseman Viktor Loov has re-signed with the New Jersey Devils for another year. The two-way deal will cover the 2017-18 season and pay Loov $650K at the NHL level. Loov was set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this summer, and will try again next season to crack an NHL roster full-time.
Loov was drafted in the seventh round by the Maple Leafs back in 2012, but quickly progressed as a defender in the SHL. His impact was immediate upon coming over to the AHL, but he’s slowly slipped out of prospect consideration as his game has plateaued. The Devils acquired him this season for Sergey Kalinin, who at the time provided the Maple Leafs with some depth for the fourth line center position—one that was later filled by Brian Boyle at the deadline. Kalinin never did suit up for the Maple Leafs, and is a restricted free agent himself this summer.
For the Devils, moving on from Kalinin wasn’t much to give up for a bit of defensive depth given his struggles in the faceoff dot and overall ineffectiveness. While Loov doesn’t offer a ton of upside as he inches closer to his 25th birthday, perhaps he can be a valuable seventh defenseman in the coming seasons. He’ll still be waiver-eligible next year, and thus will likely spend a few days up with the big club at some point.
Loov is also eligible for the expansion draft but does not fill the defensive requirement of 40 games played this season or 70 the past two combined. While that means he technically would need protection, it would be a surprise for the Vegas Golden Knights to select him when there will be other more established names available.