Today marked a great day for Devils fans. The team officially announced the signing of Ilya Kovalchuk, locking up the left-winger for 17 years, $102 million dollars. Management, players and Kovalchuk all took center stage during the press conference today (click here for video links and here for Kovalchuk’s statement).

The event was also marked with a potential mini-drama. When speaking to the media, general Lou

Lamoriello and owner Jeff Vanderbeek had interesting things to say about the deal. They were both extremely candid in their comments, something unseen at most times. Below are some of the more interesting quotes, which may show a break between general manager and owner.

The first quote comes from Lamoriello (per Gulitti), in which he stated that contracts such as Kovalchuk’s shouldn’t be allowed in the NHL.

“I would agree we shouldn’t have these,” Lamoriello said. “But I’m also saying that because it’s legal and this is something that ownership felt comfortable doing for the right reasons.”

There is a lot of ambiguity in this quote. Not once does Lamoriello use the words “we” or “I”. Instead, he puts the responsibility on the ownership. This was the first of many quotes like this throughout the press conference. It almost seems as if ownership pushed for this deal, and not Lamoriello. We’ve never really seen an ownership/general manager dispute, but clearly it seems like there was some disconnect over the deal.

Continuing on to the second quote, which deals with Lamoriello’s feelings on the length of the contract (once again, thanks to Gulitti for the quote).

Lamoriello said he “absolutely” rolled his eyes when the Islanders signed Rick DiPietro to a 15-year contract in 2006 and when Washington signed Alex Ovechkin to a 13-year contract in 2008. He also said he “absolutely” rolled his eyes when Kovalchuk’s contract was completed.

So why would he sign Kovalchuk to such a deal?

“You’d have to speak to ownership about that,” Lamoriello said. “The commitment that ownership has made here, this is a commitment and a decision they wanted to make for this type of a player and all I can do is say whether the player is a player that will fit into the team, can help the team and is not a risk as a player. As far as what the financial commitment is and that aspect of it, that was out of my hands.”

Once again, Lamoriello puts the responsibility on the ownership. He wouldn’t even take responsibility for putting together the deal, saying that ownership controlled the financial commitment to Kovalchuk. I’m sure that the Devils wanted to retain Kovalchuk, and Lamoriello was probably on board with that decision. But it seems that Lamoriello wasn’t on board with either the years or the money offered. Once again, I’ve never seen this type of disconnect between Lamoriello and management, but it seems there was something that didn’t click between the two sides.

Check after the jump for Vanderbeek's comments and my take on what these quotes really mean.

 

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So Kovalchuk is here to stay and the numbers that surround his name are astounding. Obivously there will be changes made in order for the Devils to meet the NHL Salary Cap. Problem is, who goes? According to Capgeek.com, the following players have NTC/NMC in their contract: Elias, Rolston, Arnott, Langenbrunner, Volchenkov, White, Salvador, Brodur and Hedberg but I will get to this in a minute.

The unofficial numbers came in last night and they are 17 years at $102 million with a contract that is front loaded. If the unofficial numbers are right, Kovalchuk will receive 6 million per for the next 2 years and then get a nice raise after that. He'll make 11.5 million for 5 seasons, 10.5 the year after that and then watch the yearly number take a dive each season. Rumors were circulating yesterday that the contract is setup so that Kovalchuk doesn't have to play the entire 17, he could retire, get most of his money and the Devils wouldn't be on the hook for the contract once he retired BUT even talking about that scenario with a player isn't really allowed. The Devils aren't the first to do this with contracts, just look at Luongo's or Hossa's numbers. Kovalchuk contract includes a no-movement clause through June 30, 2017 and a no-trade clause begins on July 1, 2018. That gives NJ a one year window to move Kovalchuk should something not be going right. By the end of the seventh season when that trade window opens, the Devils will have paid Kovalchuk $69.5 million of the $102 million total.

More thoughts after the jump

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This post will attempt to follow all the Devils signings today. Continue to check back regularly for updates throughout the day!

Devils Re-Sign Rod Pelley

The Devils re-signed UFA center Rod Pelley. Contract details will follow.

Pelley played 63 games last season, tallying two goals and eight assists while playing on the fourth line. The team has expected him to fill the role of the departed John Madden, but Pelley has never seemed to work himself into that role.

 

Paul Martin Signs With Pittsburgh

The Devils will lose one of their two big-name unrestricted free agents today, as Paul Martin reportedly signed with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The defender missed most of last season with a broken forearm, sustained in a game against those Penguins.

Martin signed a 5 year, $25 million dollar deal.

 

Devils Sign Henrik Tallinder

Tallinder signed a 4 year,  $13.5 million dollar deal (3.375 per year).  Tallinder had 4 goal and 16 assists for the Sabres last season. Tallinder is by no means a replacement for Martin on the blue line because the game that both these guys play is completely different.

 

Anton Volchenkov Inks With NJ

Anton Volchenkov signed a deal with NJ for $25.5 million over 6 years. The deal is also rumored to have a No-Trade Clause. Volchenkov had 4 goals and 10 assists for the Ottawa Senators last season but is one of the best shot blocking defenseman available today.

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The Devils agreed to a two-way, one-year contract with center Tim Sestito, general manager Lou Lamoriello announced today.

Sestito would have become an unrestricted Group 6 free agent tomorrow at noon. A Group 6 UFA is a player who’s contract has expired, is 25 or older, has played at least three professional seasons and has played less than 80 career NHL games.

Sestito, who turns 26 on August 28, recorded no goals and one assist in nine NHL games this season. He has no goals and one assist in ten career NHL games.

Sestito recorded 18 goals and 17 assists in 66 AHL games in 2009-2010 for the Lowell Devils.

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The Devils have announced this morning that David Clarkson has resigned with the team. The deal is reportedly worth 8 million dollars over the next 3 years. Clarkson is a key ingredient for this team because he is a player who knows how to bury the puck, play some defense and has never been shy about dropping the gloves. I've always looked to Clarkson to add some type of spark when the Devils need it most and I am glad that I will be able to continue to look his way. He didn't have a great 2009/2010 because of injuries but I am glad to see that the Devils overlooked that and got Clarkson's deal done.

I am sure we will be covering not only any Devils signings tomorrow during the Free Agency Frenzy but will touch on all the signings, so please be sure to check back with us when the Free Agency Market opens tomorrow at 12pm.

Veteran left wingers Jay Pandolfo and Andrew Peters were placed on waivers. Pandolfo had to give his permission to be subjected to waivers because he underwent shoulder surgery this offseason. If the players are not claimed, the Devils can buy out their contracts. Pandolfo was set to earn $2.5 million this season and Peters $500,000.

It's tough to watch Pando leave the team in this manner because he was such an important part of this team and its philosophy pre-lockout but he hasn't done much for me since then and especially since he lost his linemate John Madden last summer. It is time for him to go and Andrew Peters was just a mistake from the get-go so I am certainly not sad to see him go.

 

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The Devils made their first big splash of the offseason today, re-acquiring former forward Jason Arnott from the Nashville Predators for rookie winger Matt Halischuk and a second round pick in the 2011 draft.

Arnott, who served as captain of the Predators, centered the famed “A-Line” with Patrik Elias and Petr Sykora on his wings. That line produced the overtime game-winning goal in Game 6 of the 2000 Stanley Cup finals to clinch the Devils second championship.

With the addition, the Devils acquire a center for their second line. Arnott, who had 19 goals and 27 assists in 63 games last season, hopes to be reunited with Elias in his second stint as a Devil.

“One hundred percent. Absolutely,” he said to Tom Gulliti. “I’ll never forget the fun we had playing on the line together. He’s still an elite player in my mind. It would be fun to play with him again.”

Arnott has one year, $4.5 million dollars remaining on his five-year, $22.5 million dollar contract he signed with the Predators in 2006. The 35-year-old center had a no-trade clause, so he ultimately accepted the trade back to the Devils.

Devils’ general manager Lou Lamoriello hopes that Arnott can bridge the gap and allow prospect Jacob Josefson to gradually gain more responsibility with the team.

“Absolutely,” Lamoriello said to Gulliti. “It gives them tutelage and support. This does a lot for the youth and takes some of the pressure off Travis Zajac. He has a good shot and help us on the power play. It also gives us experience and a player who served as the captain in Nashviille.”

Matt Halishchuk, an oft-injured player, recorded one goal and two assists in 21 career games with the Devils. The Devils drafted Halischuk in the fourth-round of the 2007 draft.

The Devils traded Arnott, Randy McKay and a 2002 first-round pick to Dallas on March 19, 2002, in a deal that brought the Devils Joe Nieuwendyk and captain Jamie Langenbrunner. The team originally obtained Arnott in a deal with the Edmonton Oilers in 1998, trading Bill Guerin and Valeri Zelepukin.

When asked about his role on the team for this season, Arnott told Gulliti he wanted to help the team win and mentor the younger players.

“I just want to help them win again,” Arnott said. “My goal is to help them win and help out with the young guys. That’s what I want to do.”

Lamoriello said he doesn’t expect the trade to hinder the efforts to re-sign free agents Paul Martin and Ilya Kovalchuk. But the team now has 16 players under contract for $11 million dollars, so I’m sure we’ll see the impact of this trade on negotiations with the two free agents in the coming weeks.

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Last Friday, the Devils signed both Mattias Tedenby and Jacob Josefson to three-year, entry-level contracts. The Swedish players, selected only one year apart, will attend both rookie and training camp this season. But the big question facing both players is this – can they produce immediately?

This past season was a great showing for Devils’ prospects. Players like Mark Fraser, Vladimir Zharkov and Niclas Bergfors all received big minutes and contributed immediately. Other prospects, such as Matt Halischuk, had smaller roles, but still contributed effectively. Some players, such as Fraser, have a good opportunity to make the team next season. And it looks like both Tedenby and Josefson will have the same opportunity.

When talking about both prospects, Devils’ general manager Lou Lamoriello expected the players to be ready for the NHL.

“In our opinion we think they should be ready to make the next step to the NHL,” Lamoriello said to Bergen Record reporter Tom Gulitti. “They both had good seasons in the Elite League in Sweden. They’ve both had all the international competition they need.”

Lamoriello even went as far to say he believed there’s a good chance both players will be on the roster next season, even though he still has yet to find a coach. With all this positive talk and high expectations surrounding Tedenby and Josefson, I’d like to take a look at each players and weigh in with my expectations of them for this season.

Mattias Tedenby – LW

Tedenby, from everything I’ve read, seems to be the real deal. The Swedish winger, only 5’9″ tall, possess great speed and even better offensive creativity. Tedenby, the Devils 2008 first-round pick (24th overall), doesn’t shy away from contact, seemingly willing to throw his body around and play physical hockey. Scouts have also praised his acceleration, and some even compare him with Zach Parise.

But there’s always some flaws as well. In the reports I’ve read, Tedenby gets bashed for not playing good defensive hockey. Some scouts believe he can be too offensive minded, which diminishes his backchecking and defensive abilities. His size has also been questioned, but it seems like anyone under 5’11″ usually faces questions about durability, etc. in the NHL

Overall, Tedenby seems to be a solid NHL prospect. I do believe he spent some time in camp with the Devils this past offseason, but I could be wrong. From the reports I’ve read, he could easily become the next Bergfors and, potentially, the next Parise. It’ll be interesting to watch him develop through both rookie and training camp. I could see Tedenby making the team as a fourth-line winger, with the opportunity to move up the depth chart based on play.

Read after the jump for my take on Jacob Josefson!

 

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It's trade deadline day and of course the big move for the New Jersey Devils was done a month ago when the Devils acquired Ilya Kovalchuk and Anssi Salmela for Niclas Bergfors, Johnny Oduya, Patrice Cormier and picks. But the Devils do have have needs to fill im my opinion, especially after almost giving away a 4-0 lead last night. Keep it right here to see if NJ makes any deals today.

March 3, 2010 10:59 am ET

Darren's Analysis: Skoula, 30, has three goals and five assists in 33 games for the Penguins this season. The veteran blueliner will be joining his fifth NHL club after being drafted in the first round (17th overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in the 1998 draft. He also skated for Anaheim, Dallas, and Minnesota before signing a one-year contract with the Penguins as an unrestricted free agent last summer. Skoula is again eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. He is earning $575,000 this season. In my opinion he's just an average D-man and now the Devils are carrying too many D-men. I'm not sure what he brings to the table other than that Lemaire enjoyed having him in Minnesota where he played with Brian Rolston.

Last night it was Salvador-Greene; White-Mottau; Salmela-Fraser on Defense and at some point Paul Martin comes back so who will Skoula and Martin put on the healthy scratch list? White and Fraser?

AJ's Analysis: I agree completely with Darren on this trade. What does Skoula bring to the team? He's only recorded eight points, and it should be a negative sign that he played on 33 games for the Penguins this season. My guess would be that Lou traded for Skoula's experience. Lemaire never seems comfortable giving Fraser too many responsibilities. Acquiring a veteran defenseman may make Lemaire feel more comfortable with his blue line. But after seeing the Devils almost collapse yesterday, I think someone better than Martin Skoula is needed to help the Devils. With Mottau and White already getting heavy minutes as average D-men, there's really no need for another average position player. This may become similar to last year's deal for Niclas Havelid.

*** 3PM Deadline has passed but as always, there are deals announced after the deadline bell rings. At this point though, I wouldn't expect anything else from NJ ***

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Stunned is the best way to put it. When I read what the Rangers were expected to give up for Kovalchuk, the list had to iclude either a Staal or a Dubinsky, I was sure if the Devils were landing him, Zajac's name was going to be a demand. The Devils gave up Johnny Oduya, who's been awful with a large contract this season, Nik Bergfors who's been decent in his rookie season but not so good lately, Patrice Cormier, who we've all heard so much about lately but not proven at this level and nothing more than a prospect, and a 1st rd pick. If you are Lou and this is on the table, how do you NOT pull the trigger. Lou just landed a guy who's easily top 5 in this league and one of the best pure snippers in the league.

I don't know where to put him yet, on the line with Parise and Zajac or on the line with Elias and Rolston, oh by the way, Elias is back practicing with the team. The Devils haven't been playing well and while I think Kovalchuk will add a spark, it's not going to be enough to just rely on him, the Devils have to play better as a team. Kovalchuk is a huge upgrade on offense, no doubt. I mean look at the guys he had in Atlanta and he still scored 31 goals. There's the issue of trying to sign him now but if the Devils can show this guy how great NJ is and show him this team can win, he might just decide to stay here.

When I heard the news last night, I was so thrilled, almost jumping up and down thrilled and then I thought for a moment what it must be like to be a Thrashers fan. I remember 2005 when Niedermayer announced his signing with Anaheim, how disappointed I felt. Well, Don Waddell just traded one of the league's best scorer and a young defenseman for Oduya and Bergfors, with a prospect and a pick to make it look better. How dissappointing for Thrashers fans because I thought the goal was for guys to help the Thrashers win now.

Usually Lou is quiet and never does anything too big. This is big, this is bold and I respect the move, even if it turns out to be a rental. Can't wait for tonight's game!! no comments