Post by NJDevilsGM on Feb 28, 2024 23:51:42 GMT -5
Newark, NJ - The New Jersey Devils signed a pair of their impending unrestricted free agents to contracts, locking in two core players in the process.
While most teams were working on blockbuster deals during the recently held trade summit, the Devils were largely eyeing the possibility of keeping two of their own off the trade market in defenseman Nikita Zadarov and forward Jared McCann. The Devils did just that, signing the pair to long-term extensions.
McCann, who is tied with Jack Eichel atop the Devils scoring charts with 38 points in 52 games, agreed to a 6 year deal worth $30.1 million.
"Jared has been a great leader and player for us since the day he arrived in a deadline deal. We were excited to have him join our team then and we're even more pleased to see him stick around for years to come," said Devils General Manager Trent Allen.
McCann leads the Devils with 19 goals so far, putting him on pace for a 30 goal season on a team which has struggled offensively this year.
On the otherside of the coin is Zadarov, a physical, bruising, stay-at-home defender. Zadarov was acquired from the Seattle Kraken last year and has filled an important role in the teams top four, logging nearly 19 minutes a night while slotting just behind Thomas Chabot for offense from a defenseman with 27 points in 52 games this season. Zadarov's +8 plus/minus rating this season trails only usual partner Marcus Pettersson's +9 on the Devils, two rare highlights in an otherwise rough season in New Jersey.
"Nikita is a benchmark for our core and seeing him leave would have been an enormous hole to fill for us, so we're ecstatic he's with us for the long-term as well," said Allen.
Zadarov's deal is for five years and worth $25-million.
The deals help lock in a core of players who have ultimately underperformed this season in New Jersey. Despite adding Zadarov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Barclay Gooderow and Radek Faska near the end of last year and then welcoming in Thomas Chabot, MacKenzie Weegar and Kaspari Kapanen in the off-season and earlier this year, the Devils find themselves near the bottom of the standings once again with a 19-29-4 record, 30th in the 32 tam league.
Despite their position, which has them 17 points out of a playoff spot, Allen stated he doesn't expect to do much trading away of players in a retool between now and the trade deadline, and instead expects to go into next year with largely the same team.
We have three very good centres, a strong blueline, a couple of good goalscorers and one of the leagues' best netminders," Allen stressed. "We will always look at ways to improve our team but the answer is in the dressing room. We have the horses to pull this team, they will have to figure it out and start to grab some wins."
Sources inside the organization confirmed Allen's comment, stating the names likely on the block include UFA to be Jimmy Vesey, as well as Faksa, as the team looks to make room for young forwards such as Peyton Krebs next year. That said, the Devils are putting out feelers on winger Jakub Vrana and a defenseman as the club is likely to promote top farm defenseman Thomas Harley to the pro ranks next year.
While most teams were working on blockbuster deals during the recently held trade summit, the Devils were largely eyeing the possibility of keeping two of their own off the trade market in defenseman Nikita Zadarov and forward Jared McCann. The Devils did just that, signing the pair to long-term extensions.
McCann, who is tied with Jack Eichel atop the Devils scoring charts with 38 points in 52 games, agreed to a 6 year deal worth $30.1 million.
"Jared has been a great leader and player for us since the day he arrived in a deadline deal. We were excited to have him join our team then and we're even more pleased to see him stick around for years to come," said Devils General Manager Trent Allen.
McCann leads the Devils with 19 goals so far, putting him on pace for a 30 goal season on a team which has struggled offensively this year.
On the otherside of the coin is Zadarov, a physical, bruising, stay-at-home defender. Zadarov was acquired from the Seattle Kraken last year and has filled an important role in the teams top four, logging nearly 19 minutes a night while slotting just behind Thomas Chabot for offense from a defenseman with 27 points in 52 games this season. Zadarov's +8 plus/minus rating this season trails only usual partner Marcus Pettersson's +9 on the Devils, two rare highlights in an otherwise rough season in New Jersey.
"Nikita is a benchmark for our core and seeing him leave would have been an enormous hole to fill for us, so we're ecstatic he's with us for the long-term as well," said Allen.
Zadarov's deal is for five years and worth $25-million.
The deals help lock in a core of players who have ultimately underperformed this season in New Jersey. Despite adding Zadarov, Joel Eriksson Ek, Barclay Gooderow and Radek Faska near the end of last year and then welcoming in Thomas Chabot, MacKenzie Weegar and Kaspari Kapanen in the off-season and earlier this year, the Devils find themselves near the bottom of the standings once again with a 19-29-4 record, 30th in the 32 tam league.
Despite their position, which has them 17 points out of a playoff spot, Allen stated he doesn't expect to do much trading away of players in a retool between now and the trade deadline, and instead expects to go into next year with largely the same team.
We have three very good centres, a strong blueline, a couple of good goalscorers and one of the leagues' best netminders," Allen stressed. "We will always look at ways to improve our team but the answer is in the dressing room. We have the horses to pull this team, they will have to figure it out and start to grab some wins."
Sources inside the organization confirmed Allen's comment, stating the names likely on the block include UFA to be Jimmy Vesey, as well as Faksa, as the team looks to make room for young forwards such as Peyton Krebs next year. That said, the Devils are putting out feelers on winger Jakub Vrana and a defenseman as the club is likely to promote top farm defenseman Thomas Harley to the pro ranks next year.