Steven Santini Re-Signs With New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils have inked another restricted free agent, signing Steven Santini to a three-year, $4.25MM contract. The salary in the contract breaks down as follows:
- 2018-19: $1.10MM
- 2019-20: $1.50MM
- 2020-21: $1.65MM
Santini will still be a restricted free agent at the end of the deal (provided he plays in at least five more NHL games during that time), but this gives him some contract stability going forward and ensures his place with the Devils. The big defenseman played 36 games for the team last season and performed admirably, recording 10 points and routinely being among the most physical players on the team. That’s something GM Ray Shero pointed out in the press release for the Santini contract:
We are excited to lock up Steven, a young, developing defenseman, for the next three seasons. He provides size and a physical element that complements our existing defensive group moving forward.
The team obviously believes that Santini can handle himself in the defensive zone, as some of his poor possession statistics can be traced back to the incredibly lopsided zone-start numbers head coach John Hynes gave him. Still, those possession numbers will send up alarm bells for some New Jersey fans looking at a three-year term for the young defenseman. At a $1.42MM cap hit there is no reason to think that Santini will be a full-time player for all three seasons, but the deal is expensive enough to expect at least some contribution. With Andy Greene, Sami Vatanen and Ben Lovejoy all on deals expiring in either the 2019 or 2020 offseasons, the team will have to make some tough decisions on how the blue line will look going forward.
Santini represents the second-last RFA the Devils had to sign this offseason, as now only Miles Wood remains without a contract. Even with a raise coming for Wood, New Jersey will still rank near the very bottom of the league in terms of salary commitments and could potentially add basically whoever they want without causing real financial ramifications. Low-cost deals like the one given to Santini will ensure that the team still has enough money to hand out to players like Vatanan and Taylor Hall when their extension window opens, though they don’t guarantee that the team will move forward in the standings. We’ll have to wait and see if Santini can take another step forward in his development and become more than just a defensive zone whipping boy.
Minor Transactions: 02/02/18
Last night had some interesting moments around the NHL, including Henrik Lundqvist getting pulled in his second consecutive game, Radko Gudas continuing his over-the-line physicality, and Jake Allen being swept out of the net before a Bruins goal. With the weekend coming up and teams trying to fix problems or find solutions, we’ll keep track of all the minor movement around the league.
- The New Jersey Devils have assigned Steven Santini to the AHL, recalling John Quenneville in his place. Additionally, Jimmy Hayes has been sent down on a conditioning stint to get in some game action. Quenneville is a first-round pick that the Devils still have high hopes for, who has scored 21 points in 31 AHL games this year.
- Markus Hannikainen is back up with the Columbus Blue Jackets after a very short trip to the minor leagues, rejoining the team before their game against the Sharks tonight. Hannikainen has just four points in 27 NHL games this season.
- Jean-Sebastien Dea has been sent back to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL to make room for Carter Rowney as he comes off injured reserve. Dea has one goal in five games with the Pittsburgh Penguins this season.
- The Edmonton Oilers have sent Laurent Brossoit back down after he filled in for a sick Cam Talbot yesterday. Brossoit will return to the Bakersfield Condors where he has a .916 save percentage. The 24-year old goaltender was pushed out of the backup role by the incoming Al Montoya, who allowed four goals and lost last night to the Colorado Avalanche.
- The Boston Bruins have ended Peter Cehlarik‘s latest call-up, sending him back to Providence today. Cehlarik was up under emergency conditions, and played in last night’s game. The 22-year old forward isstill waiting for his first real full-time shot with the team.
- Mike Liambas, who has been on injured reserve for the last few months, has been reassigned by the Anaheim Ducks. Liambas will go to the minor leagues where he has spent almost his entire career up to this point. In eight career NHL games, the 28-year old tough guy has a single assist.
- Adin Hill has been recalled by the Arizona Coyotes after Antti Raanta was involved in a car accident before the game last night. Raanta avoided serious injury, but Hill will be brought up just in case.
- Nikita Scherbak is on his way up to the Montreal Canadiens, There will have to be a corresponding move made to make room on the roster, but that could easily be transferring Phillip Danault to injured reserve. Danault skated again today, but hasn’t played since January 13th due to a concussion.
Minor Transactions: 01/17/18
The NHL has just two games on the schedule today before getting back to a full slate on Thursday, and should expect to see several minor moves around league rosters. We’ll keep track of all of them right here. Make sure to refresh throughout the day to keep track of all the movement.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins have recalled Jean-Sebastien Dea from the minor leagues as they go on the road for back-to-back matchups against the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings. Dea has 23 points this season for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but has just one NHL game under his belt in his short career. Looking for that first NHL point still, he’ll have to find a way into the lineup over the next few days.
- Casey Nelson is on his way up to Buffalo, recalled today from the Rochester Americans. Nelson played 11 games for the Sabres last season, but has yet to suit up this year. Buffalo is back in action tomorrow night after their bye week, taking on the New York Rangers.
- Colorado has brought back center Dominic Toninato from San Antonio of the AHL. The first year pro has skated in eight games with the Avalanche already this season while recording seven goals and five assists in 30 games with the Rampage.
- With Washington’s bye week set to come to an end, the Capitals have recalled winger Jakub Vrana and defenseman Madison Bowey from AHL Hershey, per the AHL’s Transactions page. The moves come as no surprise as the demotions were simply to save some cap space (a little over $33K); neither player suited up while they were with the Bears.
- The Devils made a pair of roster moves, recalling defenseman Steven Santini from Binghamton of the AHL while sending goaltender Ken Appleby back down. This reverses the swap from Tuesday that saw Appleby promoted to take the place of Cory Schneider who was unable to dress last night against the Islanders due to an illness.
Devils Assign Blake Speers Back To Junior; Recall Steven Santini
While we’re still a week or two away from a lot of teams having to make decisions on their junior-aged players, the New Jersey Devils didn’t want for the nine game mark when it comes to right winger Blake Speers as the team announced that they have sent him back to Sault Ste. Marie of the OHL.
Teams can play junior-aged players up to nine NHL games before the first year of their entry-level contract officially kicks in. This allows teams to give some of their top young prospects an extended tryout beyond training camp to determine if they are ready for a full-time roster spot or not. There are 20 remaining junior-aged players league-wide that teams will have to make a decision on in the coming weeks.
Speers has suited up in three games with the Devils this year, being held off the scoresheet with three shots on goal while averaging 9:29 of ice time per game. Last season with the OHL Greyhounds, the 2015 third round pick (67th overall) had 26 goals and 48 assists in 68 games.
The team also announced that defenseman Steven Santini has been recalled and will take Speers’ spot on the roster. The team recently sent him down to give him a game in the AHL over the weekend.
[Related: Devils Depth Chart]