From newjerseydevils.com, Paul Martin signed a multi-year deal with the Devils. The Devils needed to sign Martin because of his mobility on defense and he played many minutes at times last season when the Devils only carried five defenseman for a few games.

With Brent Sutter as coach and the return of mentor Larry Robinson, this must have been a big factor of returning to the Devils and not signing an offer sheet from another team or going into a lengthy arbitration hearing that would force Lou Lamoriello's hand. It may have taken more time but signing Paul Martin was a priority as he is entering into a new phase of his career. The Devils need mobility on the blue line and Martin has matured last season as a very solid defenseman that can play a ton of minutes and on the power play. Will he quarterback on the man advantage? Absolutely.

To be honest, I would rather have Paul Martin at the point on the powerplay. With a right handed shot in forward Jamie Langenbrunner on the left side point, Martin will compliment him on the powerplay because he is a left handed shot on the right point. This changes the dynamics of the power play because the Devils needed more one timers and shots from the point last year in order to spread their opponents' forwards wider. Their shooting lane was always taken away by penalty killers staying low in the zone because the Devils did not always have respectability from the point. Gone is Rafalski's half speed wrister shots that hit shin pads 90% of the time, which would lead to an odd man rush the other way. Yes, the Devils will miss Scott Gomez on the power play, but the Devils needed a bigger body upfront than finesse last year. With Zubrus in front of the crease and Martin, Greene, and Rachunek manning the point, the Devils will have more room for forwards Elias, Gionta, Zajac, and Parise to operate when they see time on the power play.

Martin is still young and will need to take on more responsiblity for the next few years. If Martin can have that confidence to pinch in the zone to help out offensively and continues to improve his one on one shutdown ability, the Devils will be in great shape on the blue line. Sometimes you don't have to get a big name to bolster your blue line and time will give you a solid young player as he developes. With that new coaching staff, Martin will get every chance to succeed and have an impact.

Then again, let the trade rumors begin. Now that Parise and Martin are signed. Will Lou try to make his team better by making a blockbuster trade? Vancouver? Calgary? Or maybe leave the team as is. All the RFAs have been signed and how will Lou play his cards? Do we even dare revisit this or not? Time to put on your salary cap hats on and do some math. I'll leave it at that.

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