Thursday, July 20, 2023

Devils sign Tomas Nosek

    The New Jersey Devils made a quiet free agent signing today when they signed forward Tomas Nosek at one million dollars over his one-year contract. 

Nosek scored seven goals with eleven assists in sixty-six games for the Boston Bruins last season after scoring only three goals in his first season in Boston in 2021-22.

Nosek turns thirty-one in September and played for Las Vegas for four seasons before arriving with the Bruins for his two-season term.

Nosek was very consistent in his seasons with the Golden Knights, scoring seven, eight, eight, and eight goals.

Nosek is noted for his defensive ability and Boston had him active for all seven of their playoff series against Florida, so there is some gain with Nosek as a defensive specialist as a left winger and Nosek has played some center, according to All About The Jersey, and is reported to be pretty strong on faceoffs.

AATJ also notes the sudden jam of players for the third and fourth lines to move around the incumbents Erik Haula, Michael McLeod, Ondrej Palat, and Nathan Bastian.

The Devils traded for Shane Bowers, signed Chris Tierney last week, Nolan Foote is supposedly ready to compete for one of those slots, and Curtis Lazar is returning after he was traded for at the trade deadline along with some other AHL types that will be in camp.

While this gives the Devils loads of depth for the bottom six forward spots, it could stick them in a sport of having some veteran depth at Utica that could be playing at the NHL level in some organizations and could even lead to a few locker room issues.

I don't think that will be the case but one never knows when you are dealing with so many players and so few positions available.

Still, Tomas Nosek has a chance to be a very handy role player to have around, and at a cost that won't break the bank, I wouldn't rail against the signing.



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