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New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero is going to be very busy this off-season.
He'll be looking to upgrade the team's 28th ranked offense, add some much-needed help on the back end and he'll have a lot on his plate, one way or the other, at the draft once again as he has double digit picks at his disposal.
Before Shero gets to all that, he needs to take care of in-house business and decide which pending free agents (RFAs/UFAs) should be brought back and which the team should move on from.
Allow me to share my thoughts on just that.
Damon Severson (RFA)
For my money, Severson was the best defenseman on the roster this year. He was 3rd on the team in average ice time, tied for 5th on the team in scoring and led the defense in points, Corsi For% and Scoring Chance For%. The only decision to be made is whether to give Severson a bridge contract or a longer team deal. I vote the latter because the price would probably be reasonable ($4-4.5M per) considering what he brings to the table.
Beau Bennett (RFA)
Bennett low-key put together a very solid season in his first year with the Devils. He stayed healthy, was the team's best possession driver, and the Devils scored 48.9% of the 5v5 goals with him on the ice compared to just 40% without him. He should absolutely be brought back, especially considering the Devils moved a 3rd to get him.
Jacob Josefson (RFA)
I've always had a soft spot for Josefson but I think it is time to move on. The Devils need to upgrade their forward core, which means some players will have to go. Josefson is a guy I think the Devils can live without. He is a useful depth player but I don't think he'll ever be anything close to a consistent offensive producer (his career high in points is 14) and he has always had a tough time staying healthy.
Stefan Noesen (RFA)
Noesen scored eight goals in 44 games, all of which came at 5v5, and didn't have to ride unsustainable shooting percentages to produce in a bottom-6 role. I'd be fine with him getting another year to prove himself but, again, the Devils have to clear out a couple bodies to bring in some new ones and he could be a victim of that.
Joseph Blandisi (RFA)
Blandisi averaged just over 13 minutes per game and still produced at a 27-point pace over 82 games. He can chip in offensively and he is one of the few on the roster with some bite to his game. He should get a new contract. Even if the team isn't sold on him, they can surely get something for him on the trade market.
Blake Coleman (RFA)
Should he be re-signed? For organizational depth, sure. Should he be on the team next year? No. He mustered up just two points in 27 games and posted some of the worst underlying numbers on the team.
Keith Kinkaid (UFA)
This was a big year for Kinkaid as he took on more of a workload and (mostly) handled it well. He has proven himself as a solid backup option. If he wants to come back, and the price is reasonable, he should be given a new deal.
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