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After a lengthy negotiation the New Jersey Devils and forward Reid Boucher have finally agreed to terms on a new contract.
Boucher put pen to paper on a one-year, two-way extension worth $715,000 at the NHL level.
I'm a little surprised the Devils took a firm stance on a two-way contract as Boucher would require waivers to be sent to Albany and, quite frankly, I don't think he'd get through.
As a 22-year-old Boucher managed a point per game in the AHL last season and a very respectable 19 points in 39 games. That's 40 points over a full 82.
With how difficult it is to score in today's NHL I have a very hard time believing a young player who has shown he can contribute in the middle-6 would be passed over by 29 teams.
I don't know that it'll ever come to that but, again, I don't think getting him at a cheaper salary if he is sent to Albany and somehow clears is a big deal. I do really like this contract, though.
Last season Boucher's 5 v 5 production (1.54 points/60, 6.67 shots/60) actually rivalled Kyle Palmieri's (1.58 P/60, 6.59 S/60), although he played less than half the amount of 5 v 5 minutes.
If Boucher performs at the rate he did last season, but over a full year, he'll be worth much more than he is making. If not, the Devils didn't exactly break the bank to sign him and they aren't committed to him beyond this year.
Boucher joins Beau Bennett, Jacob Josefson and Sergei Kalinin on a long list of Devils signed to cheap, one-year prove it deals.
This is another smart bit of business from Ray Shero and co.
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Earlier this summer
it was reported the Devils were one of the teams on Jimmy Vesey's short list.
Fast forward a month and that's still the case. While other teams will no doubt be considered, the Devils are apparently at or near the top of Vesey's list.
Excerpt via CSNNE.com:
According to one of those sources, however, Vesey’s top three preferred spots are currently the Chicago Blackhawks, the New York Rangers and the New Jersey Devils.
...
Similarly, the Vesey family has strong ties with Devils assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald, going back to their Charlestown days, and New Jersey is looked at as a team on the rise in the Eastern Conference with Cory Schneider and Taylor Hall.
On top that Vesey was linemates with Devils prospect Alexander Kerfoot at Harvard and, like many teams, the Devils could no doubt give him big minutes right away.
To add some more fuel to the fire Ray Shero was at Vesey's game last night getting another look at him before he becomes a free agent on Monday.
Obviously other teams have been scouting Vesey as well but I doubt Shero would make the trip to watch him this late in the summer if he didn't believe the Devils had at least a remote chance of signing him.
We won't find out for another few days but it appears signing with Devils is a legitimate possibility.
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