New Jersey Devils Sign Josefson, Gazdic
According to a team release, the New Jersey Devils have signed another one of their RFAs, this time in the form of Jacob Josefson. Josefson will receive $1.1MM on a one-way deal. The Devils have also signed free agent forward Luke Gazdic to a one-year, two-way deal that will pay him $700K at the NHL level, according to Brennan Klak of The Hockey Writers.
Josefson, 25, has played partial seasons for the Devils since 2010 after coming over from the Swedish Elite League, suiting up for 238 games during that span. Never an offensive threat, Josefson has provided value on the penalty kill, where he excels in suppressing shot opportunities. The young center will continue to work at his even strength consistency, trying to solidify his role as a shutdown player.
Gazdic spent last season bouncing back and forth between the Oilers and their AHL affiliate Bakersfield. The winger has scored double digit goals just once in his professional career, but will provide some veteran leadership on the Albany Devils this season.
Jordin Tootoo Signs With Blackhawks
According to a team release, the Chicago Blackhawks have signed free agent forward Jordin Tootoo. It’s a one-year contract for Tootoo, who played last season with the New Jersey Devils. General Fanager reports that the deal is worth $750K, though are still waiting on confirmation on whether it is a two-way deal.
The long-time Nashville Predator scored four goals and nine points for the Devils last season his 12th in the NHL. Tootoo, now 33, was the first player of Inuit decent ever to play in an NHL game when he made his debut on October 9th, 2003.
While Tootoo is getting into his mid-thirties, he’s still regarded as an effective agitator and fourth line player that is tough to play against. As the league moves away from fighting, Tootoo has remained among the league leaders, dropping the gloves nine times last season.
RFAs Still Waiting On Contracts
After a busy few days watching free agent contracts be handed out like candy, and millions of dollars spent like pennies, there are still some key restricted free agents out there negotiating their next contracts. Vincent Trocheck, Filip Forsberg and Seth Jones have already received deals eclipsing $25MM, locking them in long before they even get a sniff of unrestricted free agency. Here are a few more names still waiting on deals:
- Johnny Gaudreau and Sean Monahan of the Flames still are without deals, though reports indicate they are both open to signing long-term with Calgary and want to play with each other for “the next ten years”. The pair combined for 57 goals and 141 points last season, completed before either turned 23.
- The Ducks’ Hampus Lindholm is still without a contract, as discussed earlier today. The 22-year old is considered one of the best young defensemen in the league, and the team would like to lock him up to a similar term as partner Sami Vatanen, who received a four-year deal last month.
- After re-signing Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilevskiy to what seem like team-friendly deals, GM Steve Yzerman still has work to do in the form of Nikita Kucherov, the team’s young sniper. Reports are that the two sides are working on a deal, but Yzerman has to be careful as the team is inching closer and closer to the salary cap with Kucherov and three other players still to sign.
- After acquiring Taylor Hall in a blockbuster deal, the Devils still have another star winger to get under contract in the form of Kyle Palmieri. The 25-year old broke out last season with 30 goals, and will be looking to cash in on his sudden performance. The Devils have over $17MM in cap space even after bringing back Devante Smith-Pelly and signing Ben Lovejoy and Vernon Fiddler.
For the entire list of RFA players, and the projected depth charts for each team head to Roster Resource and check out their detailed info.
Vesey Remains Committed To Free Agency
Jimmy Vesey will wait a little longer before deciding his future.
The Harvard grad says he’s committed to becoming an unrestricted free agent, but that won’t happen until August 15. The end-of-summer signing period won’t prevent him from being heavily sought-after. While Vesey has never publicly revealed his shortlist, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe reports Toronto, Boston, Buffalo, both New York teams, New Jersey, and “potentially” St. Louis and Philadelphia having potentially having major interest.
Vesey was drafted 66th overall in 2012 by the Nashville Predators. He played 4 seasons post-draft at Harvard, posting 144 points in 128 games. But when it came time to sign his entry-level contract with the Predators, Vesey declined to put pen to paper, despite allegedly saying he would. Not wanting to lose a good prospect for nothing, the Predators traded Vesey to Buffalo for the 70th pick in this year’s entry draft, recouping the draft pick they spent on Vesey but not the four years of development.
According to Frank Seravalli of TSN, the Sabres plan on making their pitch to Vesey sometime this week, with hopes of convincing him to sign and play with his good friend, Jack Eichel. Vesey and Eichel have been playing together on a summer league team for years now, and Eichel has already given Vesey the talk about Buffalo. However, Vesey’s agent confirmed that free agency is still the plan.
Despite being done school, Vesey will spend his summer doing homework on where he wants to sign. He has family connections in Toronto, with his dad working with the Maple Leafs and his brother being drafted by them. He’s spent four seasons playing in Massachusetts. His good friend plays with Buffalo.
All of the above-listed teams have room for Vesey in their top 6 forwards, and will be getting a highly-motivated player.
Merrill, Smith-Pelly Re-Sign In New Jersey
1:04pm: The Devils have announced the re-signing of Beau Bennett to a one-year, $725K contract, completing the trifecta of not-tendered restricted free agent signings.
12:52pm: The New Jersey Devils have brought back defenseman John Merrill and winger Devante Smith-Pelly on two-year deals after neither restricted free agent was tendered by the team. Merrill’s deal is for a total of $2.275MM, as reported by Frank Servalli, while Smith-Pelly’s deal totals $2.6MM. Beau Bennett, recently acquired from Pittsburgh, is the third of the group of New Jersey RFA’s that were not tendered, but expected to re-sign.
Sharks Sign David Schlemko
The San Jose Sharks have signed defenseman David Schlemko to a four-year deal worth $2.1MM per year, as first reported by Pierre LeBrun. It’s an affordable deal for a player coming off a breakout year in New Jersey.
Schlemko, 29, found himself almost out of the NHL in 2014-15 as he bounced through three teams. Last season he turned a $625K contract with the Devils into an excellent season, and has been rewarded with his $8.4MM deal today.
Schlemko put up 19 points while logging over 18 minutes a night on a bad Devils team, but will move to the Stanley Cup finalist Sharks and slot into the bottom pairing on a deep (but unheralded) defense corps. His $2.1MM cap hit actually is the lowest of the group, coming in over a million less than Brenden Dillon‘s $3.27MM.
New Jersey Devils Ink Vernon Fiddler
Darren Dreger of TSN reports that the New Jersey Devils have signed free agent forward Vernon Fiddler to a one-year deal, worth $1.25MM. Fiddler had spent the last five seasons with Dallas, earning the same amount the last two as he will in his first with New Jersey.
After trading for Taylor Hall on Wednesday, Fiddler is another piece to an improving Devils squad. He’ll slot in behind Adam Henrique and Travis Zajac to become the third or fourth line center, depending on what New Jersey does with youngster Pavel Zacha.
Fiddler, never an imposing offensive figure, scored 12 goals and 22 points last season but contributed most on the Stars penalty kill. Always regarded as an above average face-off man, New Jersey will be able to use him in defensive zone situations to shield the young Zacha as he continues to develop.
Devils Sign Ben Lovejoy
The New Jersey Devils have signed Stanley Cup champion Ben Lovejoy, reports Sportsnet’s John Shannon. GM Ray Shero, formerly of the Penguins, signs the former Pittsburgh defenseman to a three-year deal with a cap hit of $2.67MM. Lovejoy will be counted on to log some minutes to help replace the recently-traded Adam Larsson.
Lovejoy played a depth role with Pittsburgh last year, making it a bit surprising that he was able to land a three year deal at more than double the $1.2M salary he earned in 2015-16. He suited up in 66 games with the Penguins, scoring four goals and six assists while playing 18:52 per game. He also played in 24 playoff games for the Cup champions, adding two goals and four helpers while averaging 17:46 per night.
In his eight year career (with Anaheim and Pittsburgh), Lovejoy, 32, has played in 334 games, collecting 15 goals and 62 assists.
Edmonton Trades Taylor Hall To New Jersey
First reported by Bob McKenzie of TSN, the Edmonton Oilers and New Jersey Devils have completed a deal that will see winger Taylor Hall change teams. In return, the Devils will send Adam Larsson the other way. It is a one-for-one deal, only including the two young stars.
The Oilers have been long rumored to be chasing a long-term defensive piece, and Elliotte Friedman adds that there was talk of a Hall for Larsson deal at the draft last weekend. Of course, when Jesse Puljujarvi fell to the Oilers with the fourth selection, they couldn’t convince themselves to draft a defenseman.
With the glut of young forwards that Edmonton now has they would be wise to deal one of them, however Hall looks like perhaps the best one not named McDavid. His 65 point 2015-16 season was excellent, and he’s now put up 328 points in 381 games.
In Larsson, the Oilers get an excellent young blueliner that is still locked up long-term. The 23-year old is signed through the 2020-21 season at a reasonable $4.17MM rate. While he’s not quite the shutdown number one guy many people thought that Hall would command, he is a young top-pairing defenseman who the Oilers so desperately needed. This may lend more credence to the idea that Milan Lucic has already agreed to a contract, as the Oilers completed this deal quickly after his Monday visit.
For the Devils, they get another young powerhouse talent to add to their forward group alongside Adam Henrique, Kyle Palmieri and Pavel Zacha. With a young corps of defensemen still under contract, Larsson was deemed expendable in order to get this kind of talent. First impressions are an absolute robbery by the Devils, who have more than enough room to add a top talent on a $6MM/year deal.
Full List of Players Who Did Not Receive a Qualifying Offer
The deadline to make a qualifying offer to a restrict free agent ended at 5pm today. Below is a list of players who did not receive an offer and sorted by team for easy reference. Any player that did not receive a qualifying offer is eligible to be an unrestricted free agent on July 1st.
(as of writing the Toronto Maple Leafs were the only team not to confirm which players received QOs)
Anaheim Ducks
F Matt Bailey, F Brandon Pirri, F Charles Sarault, D Kevin Gagne, and D Martin Gernat.
Arizona Coyotes
F Sergei Plotnikov, , D Philip Samuelsson, F Christian Thomas, D Kevin Connauton, D Jarred Tinordi, D Klas Dahlbeck, and G Niklas Treutle
Boston Bruins
F Landon Ferraro and F Brett Connolly.
Buffalo Sabres
F Alex Guptill, F Colin Jacobs, F Jack Nevins, and Nathan Lieuwen.
Calgary Flames
F Kenny Agostino, F Bill Arnold, F Joe Colborne, F Turner Elson, F Josh Jooris, F Drew Shore, F Bryce Van Brabant, G Joni Ortio, and Kevin Poulin.
Carolina Hurricanes
F Zach Boychuk, F Anthony Camara, F Dane Fox, F Carter Sandlak, F Justin Shugg, D Danny Biega, D Michal Jordan, D Rasmus Rissanen, and G Rasmus Tirronen.