Devils bring back Tatar

     One day after the New Jersey Devils signed a popular former Devil in Stefan Noesen,  the Devils brought another favorite back to Newark when they signed left wing Tomas Tatar to a one-year contract worth 1.8 million.

The thirty-three-year-old Tatar spent two seasons with the Devils but wanted a multi-year offer last season as he tested the free agent market.

Tatar didn't find the contract length he was looking for and attempted to return to New Jersey to accept the one-year contract the team had offered but the Devils acquired Tyler Toffoli in the interim and no longer had the space for Tatar.

Tatar signed a one-year contract with Colorado but disappointed with only one goal and eight assists in twenty-seven games before being traded to the Seattle Kraken, where his play improved over forty-three games with eight goals and seven assists.

Tatar scored fifteen and twenty goals in the two seasons he spent with the Devils and showed good chemistry on a line with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer, so it makes sense to me why the Devils believe he still has good hockey left in him.

I think this is an excellent addition to the Devils and I love the one-year contract that forces Tatar to prove that he's still a solid forward.

While I'm happy with the return of Stefan Noesen, I like Tatar's contract better (three years for Noesen), and while Noesen brings some intangibles that Tatar doesn't (physical play and occasionally dropping the gloves), Tatar brings a track record of success with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer and perhaps his return will improve the play of one or both of those players.