The New Jersey Devils had some difficult decisions to make in keeping their eligible free agents and when there are tough calls to make,there are players that you hate to see go.
The Devils kept a few (the most important stayed) and lost four including a pair of players that will be fondly remembered by the members of Devils Nation yesterday.
First,lets look at the good news.
The most important unrestricted free agent was defenseman Johnny Oduya.
Oduya improved his play greatly last season and considering the Devils defensive corps,he was a must keep.
I have been critical of Oduya in the past,but when you look at the available blueliners in free agency,the only way to upgrade was to keep Oduya and add another backline player.
Losing Oduya and signing another would have been a wash at best.
Also,it appears that Oduya gave the Devils a bit of a discount-3 years 10.5 million which looks like a pittance when you look at the deal Mattius Ohlund signed with Tampa yesterday.
I have always liked Ohlund's game and was hoping that the Devils would be in the hunt for his services,but not at that price!
Travis Zajac was tendered an offer and he will remain in New Jersey.
Keeping Zajac was a must,but being that he was a restricted free agent,there was little chance that the Devils were going to lose the center.
Andy Greene was kept around as a depth D-man in signing a two year deal for 1.475 million.
Greene could develop further without Brent Sutter in charge as he seemed to be one of the players that was not a favorite of the former Devils boss.
And today,the Devils signed right wing Ilkka Pikkarainen from Finland.
Pikkarainen scored 24 goals in the Finnish league last season and played three seasons in the past for the then Devils affiliate in Albany.
I know very little more than that.
Now to the bad news,the Devils lost four players yesterday.
John Madden left for a one year contract with the Blackhawks for 2.75 million.
The 36 year old Madden was a checking line stalwart and one of the best defensive forwards in the game for years,but never seemed to click under Brent Sutter and could be replaced by the cheaper Rod Pelley.
I will miss Madden,mainly because he made Jay Pandolfo so much better,but the time seems right for him to go...
Brian Gionta signed with the Montreal Canadiens,who were tossing money around all day to a five year deal worth 25 million.
Gionta was a tough,little player but his numbers had been dropping for years and if that was the number he was offered,I have no problem letting him go,but someone is going to have pick up his numbers for sure.
Scott Clemmensen moved on to Florida with a three year deal worth 3.6 million.
Clemmensen will still be a backup for Tomas Vokoun,but his playing time there will be far more than any time behind Marty Brodeur with the Devils.
Really happy for Clemmer and I hope he gets the chance that he deserves after a great job filling in for Marty last season.
Mike Rupp is now a Pittsburgh Penguin,so we will see Rupp quite often.
Rupp's enforcer duties picked up last year in New Jersey and I never saw his effort lacking.
But Pierre LeBlond can do the same duties for less dough and again the words for today are Cost-Efficient....
I don't think the Devils are finished and as much as I will miss some of the departed players,I must agree with Lou Lamoriello and try to keep costs down.
The cap will almost certainly drop next off season and some of the contracts that were signed yesterday are going to be franchise chokers.
The Devils (along with the Red Wings) are always in the hunt and in order to not be part of the cycle gang like Pittsburgh or Colorado hard decisions need to be made every season.
The Devils continue to make the difficult call and for that I applaud them...
Bullpen Notes
Should this be penalty box notes since it is all hockey???
The Rangers find a sucker to eat Scott Gomez's contract and then they sign oft-injured Marian Gaborik to a five year deal at 7.5 million per?
I like Gaborik's game and wish he was not a Ranger,but Gaborik misses time every year!
The Rangers in their continuing battle to be the Washington Redskins of hockey think the answer is to spend recklessly every season.
The real answer is to spend what you have responsibly and have money ready to jump on real opportunity.
Speaking of money wasters,how about the Habs in Montreal?
Scott Gomez in a trade,the above Brian Gionta signing and Mike Cammalleri from the Flames as forwards and Jaroslav Spacek and Hal Gill on defense.
At least Cammalleri is coming off a good season and not having to look years back to find a top notch season.
Spacek signed roughly the same three year ten million deal that the Devils did to keep Johnny Oduya,which would you rather have?
And Chicago?
Marian Hossa for 12 YEARS!~?
I know it averages a reasonable 5.2 million,but 12 years!~
Craziness when you have the unknown cap factors over the period.
Hossa is a great player,but that is nuts!
Photo Credit
Oduya-Getty Images
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