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New Jersey Devils: Decision On Stephen Gionta To Come After The Draft

June 14, 2016, 2:04 PM ET [42 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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Nine players on the New Jersey Devils' roster are slated to hit free agency in less than a month's time.

Among them is Stephen Gionta.

The 5'7' forward has spent his last 10 years in the Devils' organization - it's the only one he has ever known - and would surely like the marriage to continue.

It seems he may not get his wish, though.

I reached out to Gionta's agent, Steve Bartlett, and it doesn't sound like talks are far along - if they've even started.

"Devils have indicated (they) probably will not make decision on Gionta until some time after the draft," Bartlett said. "So we will wait and see."

Considering the Devils have been in off-season mode for a little more than two months and nothing is done - or even close - it might be safe to say his days in New Jersey are numbered.

Gionta has given the Devils some good hockey throughout his career - most notably playing alongside Ryan Carter and Steve Bernier in the 2011-12 playoffs - but his play is tailing off (50CF% in 2013-14, 47.8CF% in 2014-15, 43.5% in 2015-16) and that's unlikely to change at age 32.

I think it is time to thank him for his service and walk away. Time will tell if Devils' management feels the same way.

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