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Lou Lamoriello has had quite the summer.
Since failing to reach the playoffs for the third time in four seasons, Lamoriello has put his work hat on and made several moves in an effort to improve the team.
The team bought out Anton Volchenkov and elected not to give out much term or dollars to Mark Fayne in effort to clear room for Eric Gelinas, Jon Merrill and Adam Larsson to be regulars instead.
They brought in Mike Cammalleri,
the NHL's 7th most efficient goal scoring forward at 5 vs 5 last year. They brought in Czech forward Martin Havlat,
who has shown the ability to produce when healthy, and is good friends with several members of the Devils.
The team also signed Cory Schneider,
who has the best save percentage and goals against average in the NHL over the last four seasons, to a long-term extension after letting Martin Brodeur go.
All of those moves figure to help the Devils, and to me the off-season couldn't have gone much better to date.
Not all believe that, though.
Kevin Allen of USA Today grades the Devils' work a B-, and has concerns about some of the moves the team made.
New Jersey Devils: B-
Mike Cammalleri should provide a spark. He could score 20 to 25 goals. Martin Havlat was an inexpensive pickup at $1.5 million, provided he stays healthy. He's good friends with Patrik Elias. The seven-year, $42 million for Cory Schneider seems steep for a goalie who hadn't made 45 appearances before last season.
A couple thoughts on Allen's comments:
- Cammalleri scored 26 goals in 63 games last year for a poor offensive team in Calgary. That's more than the 20-25 Allen projects, and had Cammalleri played a full season he'd have scored 34 goals at that rate. Playing on the top line with two good puck distributors in Travis Zajac and Jaromir Jagr should bode well for Cammalleri, who should be able to pot at least 25 if healthy.
- Schneider has the best save percentage and goals against average in hockey over the last four years. His body of work over that span suggests he'll be just fine playing a full season as the starting goaltender. To put Schneider's numbers in perspective, Tuukka Rask has made a little over 10 more starts during the last four seasons, and has lesser numbers on a better team. I don't think anyone questions Rask's ability to start.
How would you all rate the Devils off-season to date? Vote below and feel free to leave your thoughts in the comment section.
How would you grade the Devils' off-season to date?
Devils posts
On Cory Schneider's long-term extension
On Evander Kane and the constant trade rumors
Ryan Carter pivotal to 4th line success
Forwards for futures
The Devils aren't done
My in-depth Devils draft review
Jackets posts
On Brandon Dubinsky's contract extension
Galaxies Apart
Blue Jackets draft review
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