Devils buyout Volchenkov!

First,a PSA-Sorry I missed a few days due to the internet issues at work.
At this time of year with games to get to,the blog work is often done later in the evening at the road office.
If connection issues are present,it often KO's the blog for a bit.

With free agency starting today for both the NHL and NBA,things will fire up shortly with thoughts on the Devils and Cavaliers decisions.

Lou Lamoriello and the Devils started the period one day before with two moves along the blueline that kept a young player happy and saw the team say goodbye to a veteran.
New Jersey used its final compliance buyout on veteran defenseman Anton Volchenkov and as a result saved 4.25 million on the team salary cap for each of the next two seasons.
Every team was given two compliance buyouts to be used in the two years following the mess caused by the lockout and had to use them or lose them.
The 32 year old Volchenkov will still get money from the Devils,it simply will not count against the salary cap.
Volchenkov was a signing that I thought would be a huge help,but a sudden decline in his speed along with a succession of nagging injuries never really gave the Devils the player that they thought that they were signing.
I think this was the right player to buyout,although some preferred Bryce Salvador as the selection.
Volchenkov's contract was more expensive than Salvador and had two years to run rather than the one on the deal with Salvador.
I liked Volchenkov,but this was the best decision for the Devils in what will hopefully be an attempt to add firepower to a popgun offense....

The Devils also signed Adam Larsson to a one year deal for 900,000 dollars.
Hopefully,Larsson will show the talent that I think he has and Peter DeBoer will actually use him this year!

The team also extended qualifying offers to a number of players including Mattias Tedenby and Alexander Urbom.
Both Tedenby and Urbom will be playing in the KHL next season overseas,but by giving each of the pair qualifying offers,the Devils retain their NHL rights if and when they would decide to return.

That catches up on the Devils,what about the Cavaliers?
Well,they have some big news too and I'll have that later along with any other signings for either team with the start of free agency today.