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New Jersey Devils News & Notes: RFA's, Assistant Coach Search & More

July 17, 2013, 11:22 AM ET [96 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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It may be the middle of July, but there's still plenty of New Jersey Devils news circulating.

Here is the latest surrounding the team:

- The Devils hope to have a new assistant coach in place by the end of the week, according to Lou Lamoriello. It's been pretty quiet in terms of potential candidates besides Sergei Brylin, who appears an unlikely option. It'll be interesting to see who Pete DeBoer and the Devils elect to go with but whoever they hire will have his work cut out for him working with the Devils power play.

As you all know, the Devils PP has struggled the last few years and with the loss of Ilya Kovalchuk, it'll make it even harder to have success. The Devils need a whole new system on the power play and hopefully whoever they hire is capable of bringing in one that works.

- Lamoriello hopes to have some RFA's re-signed by the end of the week, as well. I haven't reached out to any agents but I imagine Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson will both get one-way contracts while Keith Kinkaid should be re-signed to share time in Albany with Scott Wedgewood.

I think somewhere around $2.5-3 million per season will be fair for Henrique while Josefson will probably come in close to $1 million. I'm not sure there's a fit in the lineup for him right now, though.

- The Devils are rumored to be looking for some scoring punch to help replace Kovalchuk and Jaromir Jagr is one of the best offensive players on the market. Jagr announced on his Facebook page yesterday that fans should "be excited for tomorrow". I don't know if he'll end up in New Jersey but it'll be interesting to see what happens with him regardless.

I still think the Devils would be best to try and sign Damien Brunner.

- Devils prospect Artur Gavrus will reportedly play in the KHL this season. He spent all of his draft year and half of last season playing for Owen Sound of the OHL. His rights were traded to Oshawa, who Pete DeBoer owns part of, this off-season but it obviously looks like he won't play there.


**

Is Kovalchuk planning a return to the NHL?

My take on Marek Zidlicky's extension with the Devils.

Just how good is Reid Boucher?

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