But the day wasn't all about Dougie Hamilton as the Devils finally have appeared to have filled the veteran backup position behind Mackenzie Blackwood that they believed they had closed during the last offseason when they signed Corey Crawford only to have Crawford retire during training camp.
The void left by Crawford was a problem all season with the Devils being forced to use veteran Scott Wedgewood and waiver addition Aaron Dell behind Blackwood with New Jersey to less than strong returns, so Tom Fitzgerald's shopping list included a veteran goalie for that role on the roster.
Jonathan Bernier seems to be a perfect fit for the position after playing twenty-four games for the Red Wings that would have been the best on the Devils, above even Blackwood's season numbers.
Bernier's record finished at 9-11-1 with a save percentage of .914 and a goals allowed average of 2.99, With both of the latter stats that would have been tops for the Devils, Bernier would have been the top netminder on the team last year, which made him a natural target in free agency.
Bernier turns thirty-three next week, so he's not the long term answer, but he'll be perfect as the veteran number two that can not only play thirty games a year, but also handle a full load should Blackwood get injured, and be the mentor that Blackwood hasn't really been able to lean on since his arrival in Newark.
The contract is a little higher than I'd prefer at 8.25 million over two seasons but the Devils don't have issues with cap space, so I'm more than fine with the signing of Bernier.
New Jersey also made a few signings to bolster their new AHL team in Utica, but their other move of the day saw them jettison defenseman Will Butcher along with a fifth-rounder in the 2022 draft in exchange for future considerations.
Butcher played in only twenty-three games of a season spent in Lindy Ruff's doghouse, scoring one goal with ten assists but clearly didn't adjust to the system used by Ruff.
Butcher was scheduled to make four million this season so the Devils did save some cap space but considering the team's cap situation the trade to receive literally nothing for Butcher makes me think that Tom Fitzgerald may be planning another move shortly perhaps to land a forward.
Back later with the signing of Dougie Hamilton.
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