Devils sign Damon Severson to 6 year contract

The New Jersey Devils finished signing their restricted free agents today with the signing of defenseman Damon Severson to a six year contract that averages 4.1 million.
The contract starts at over two million and finishes at 5.1 million in 2023.

The 23 year old Severson scored three goals with a career high 28 assists last season for a less than powerful Devils team,but still led the team's defensemen in points.
Severson is the type of defenseman that Ray Shero seems to value with puck movement and possession adding an offensive touch to a team perpetually in search of offensive help and Severson is the most veteran and the last remaining young defenseman from the Lou Lamiorello era with those type of abilities.
Severson will likely remain with Andy Greene as the number one pairing in the defensive corps for the foreseeable future.

The key for me was the six year length of the agreement,which is risky,but at the same time a bargain.
The risk is that Severson doesn't develop further and makes him somewhat overpaid,but I don't think that is likely to happen.
I wouldn't go as far to say that Severson is headed to the elite level,but he should be well above average and that would make this contract very reasonable.
Six years is a long time,especially if Severson regresses,but six years is a long time in hockey contracts as well.
What I'm trying to say is that salaries will continue to rise and what one would say is an overpay right now might be a bargain in a few years,which might make Severson an attractive trade chip if the Devils are still in rebuild mode (If that's the case in four years,it'll be someone else's rebuild) and maybe even if not.
As we saw with needing to swap Adam Larsson in order to land Taylor Hall,one never knows what need contenders will be forced to shore up come playoff stretch run time and an affordable deal can help in making such deals.

I'm fine with this signing.
It's a little risky,but not excessively so and if Severson's maturity continues,the deal will be very cap friendly.
Sometimes,a team that is attempting a rebuild needs to show their younger players that they believe in them and show some faith-the Devils started that today..