New Jersey Devils General Manager, Lou Lamoriello, said that he wanted to make a splash in free agency this season and when the clock struck 12-noon on July 1st, Lou Lamoriello was on the free agency diving board with his cellular phone. Lamoriello was looking at hockey names such as free agents Brian Rolston, Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Federov and Bobby Holik along with looking to re-sign players such as Bryce Salvador, Jay Pandolfo, David Clarkson and Barry Tallackson. When the dust settled, Lamoriello got his highly coveted free agent (Rolston), added another familiar face (Holik) and re-signed the other players mentioned above to put his team in good shape heading into the 2008-09 NHL campaign.
How would I grade these moves so far? A-.
There is no question that Brent Sutter needed certain players to help spark a Devils’ offense that was anemic at times last season and was shutout nearly a dozen times during the regular season. With these signings, Brent Sutter got players that bring leadership, experience, and versatility in areas that the team lacked, such as the power play, face-offs, and the physical aspect of the game. These moves have made the Devils a stronger force in an Atlantic Division that should prove to be tough yet again this season.
At times last season, the Devils did not have all the right tools to win games nor did they have any depth on their roster. With Rolston, they get a rocket shot, speed, and a versatile player that can score goals at any position on the power play. He can be a streaky scorer but his intangibles more than made up his lack of scoring during some of his stretches when he was with the Wild. Rolston also brings a strong leadership aspect to the team, as you could easily make the argument that he should have been the permanent captain of a team that has an alternating captainship.
I like this move by Lamoriello because Sutter loves to shuffle his lines and give the Devils a different look to opposing teams, as did former Devils coach and Rolston’s former coach Jacques Lemaire. Rolston can play center, both wings, and even the point on the power play if the Devils want to utilize four forwards and also has experience playing “musical lines” during his time with the Wild. Rolston also gives the team a short-handed threat, having been amongst the top short-handed goal scorers during his career in the NHL.
Signing Bobby Holik was a great move by Lamoriello for a number of reasons. Since Sutter moved Zubrus to the wing midway through last season, the Devils lacked size down the middle and Holik can still physically punish his opponents, providing that size as well as providing the Devils someone who can fit into the role of an overall roleplayer better. His presence will relieve the pressure on John Madden, who had a career year offensively while being called upon to shut down top lines last season. Now, Sutter has options of putting Holik in the faceoff circle instead of Madden at times and he can keep the tandem of Madden and Pandolfo fresh for later parts of the third period. Also, Holik brings a snarl that the Devils were lacking at times during the past few seasons.
Re-signing Bryce Salvador will help bring leadership and character to a relatively young blue line. The Devils have a total of eight defensemen signed for next season and possibly young prospect Matthew Corrente making a push for a roster spot and Salvador will help bring experience into their locker room and teach the Devils’ youngsters. This Devils team may also look for a mobile right handed defenseman through a trade or through free agency if Lamoriello decides to dump some salary for draft picks later on.
WOO EFFECT: Overall, Lamoriello brought back players that have already played with the Devils organization because he is familiar with what he is getting. Everyone that he signed knows what it takes to be a winner and, after losing to the rival New York Rangers last season, anything short of winning the Stanley Cup is a complete failure. To tell you the truth I am not a big fan of any teams going after former players for a second tour of duty, but I will make an exception here. Yes, Rolston and Holik are getting up there in years, but they have proven their worth in the new NHL; putting up solid numbers after the lockout. I also like the fact that Lamoriello was aggressive enough to give Rolston, 35, a long term contract.
Armed with a new arena, a first class organization led by Lamoriello, and northern New Jersey being a great place to raise a family, there is no question in my mind that the Devils are not rebuilding; they’re reloading with players that know how to win the Stanley Cup and to make a run at hockey’s greatest prize.
Programming Note Erich Hoffman, Roger Mussa, and I will be hosting a two hour special on the Devils' free agency splash this Sunday, July 6th, at 1:00PM EST. Special call-in guests will be giving their analysis and we will be taking calls from you the fans. Please click on the banner and register to sign up to listen if you have not done so.
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