Zajac's deal is only a slight overpayment. The Devils without this deal had 32 million dollars in cap space next year, four of their top six forwards are going to be UFAs next year (Zajac, Zubrus, Elias, and Clarkson). Devils could not afford to lose Zajac at all. Also, they are paying him like he's a first line center (or close to it). He's so important to this team, that he's worth the extra maybe 500k or 750k that he's making.

Plus, after 2013-2013, the cap is destined to go up. In three or four years, 5.75 is going to be irrelevant with how high the cap is.

Also, for the last time, you cannot CANNOT compare this deal to other deals that were signed with different cap floors or cap ceilings. When Sedin signed their deals, the cap ceiling was like 60 million. Zajac's signing his deal with a cap ceiling of 64.3 million and eventually more than that.

Zajac's deal is only a slight overpayment. The Devils without this deal had 32 million dollars in cap space next year, four of their top six forwards are going to be UFAs next year (Zajac, Zubrus, Elias, and Clarkson). Devils could not afford to lose Zajac at all. Also, they are paying him like he's a first line center (or close to it). He's so important to this team, that he's worth the extra maybe 500k or 750k that he's making.

Plus, after 2013-2013, the cap is destined to go up. In three or four years, 5.75 is going to be irrelevant with how high the cap is.

Also, for the last time, you cannot CANNOT compare this deal to other deals that were signed with different cap floors or cap ceilings. When Sedin signed their deals, the cap ceiling was like 60 million. Zajac's signing his deal with a cap ceiling of 64.3 million and eventually more than that.
- _Zippy_

dammit you're using logic and actually basing your opinions on facts, don't you know what site this is?

Zajac's deal is only a slight overpayment. The Devils without this deal had 32 million dollars in cap space next year, four of their top six forwards are going to be UFAs next year (Zajac, Zubrus, Elias, and Clarkson). Devils could not afford to lose Zajac at all. Also, they are paying him like he's a first line center (or close to it). He's so important to this team, that he's worth the extra maybe 500k or 750k that he's making.

Plus, after 2013-2013, the cap is destined to go up. In three or four years, 5.75 is going to be irrelevant with how high the cap is.

Also, for the last time, you cannot CANNOT compare this deal to other deals that were signed with different cap floors or cap ceilings. When Sedin signed their deals, the cap ceiling was like 60 million. Zajac's signing his deal with a cap ceiling of 64.3 million and eventually more than that.
- _Zippy_

great, I hope so

Or Montreal, or burry them in the minors...
- KABLOOEY

Indeed, I am all for re-acquiring Gomez and then immediately trading him back to Montreal for Galchenyuk.

That signing, inadvertently, allow the Rangers to acquire a kid that may become a Norris Trophy winning defensemen one of these days.

Your bad dude. Just bad. We have almost 2 7mil contracts. And those two are our two best players. Your bad contracts were never your best players. Good day.
- poisondhearts37

the Rangers never would have given Drew Doughty 7 million a year, Sather would never give that much money to a player as young as he was.

Zajac's deal is only a slight overpayment. The Devils without this deal had 32 million dollars in cap space next year, four of their top six forwards are going to be UFAs next year (Zajac, Zubrus, Elias, and Clarkson). Devils could not afford to lose Zajac at all. Also, they are paying him like he's a first line center (or close to it). He's so important to this team, that he's worth the extra maybe 500k or 750k that he's making.

Plus, after 2013-2013, the cap is destined to go up. In three or four years, 5.75 is going to be irrelevant with how high the cap is.

Also, for the last time, you cannot CANNOT compare this deal to other deals that were signed with different cap floors or cap ceilings. When Sedin signed their deals, the cap ceiling was like 60 million. Zajac's signing his deal with a cap ceiling of 64.3 million and eventually more than that.
- _Zippy_

Not to mention these 8 years run through the prime of his career, more or less.

how is it less crazy than a 13 year suter contract? or the 9+ year richards(s) contracts?
- Xnightwish

Well those deals are no longer allowed and yes they were called crazy.

Indeed, I am all for re-acquiring Gomez and then immediately trading him back to Montreal for Galchenyuk.

That signing, inadvertently, allow the Rangers to acquire a kid that may become a Norris Trophy winning defensemen one of these days.
- Pete V

Kid def looks good. Whats the report or Mcilrath? Kid looks like he might be mean. Hows has his start in the AHL been?

Indeed, I am all for re-acquiring Gomez and then immediately trading him back to Montreal for Galchenyuk.

That signing, inadvertently, allow the Rangers to acquire a kid that may become a Norris Trophy winning defensemen one of these days.
- Pete V

Very well done! Lucky as s h i t! But nevertheless it worked out.

Bleh i'll just put the default response of other teams fans to a good news post about another team.

OMG the ______ are not gonna make the playoffs! I cant believe you signed _______ to a __ year contract for ___ per year! Leafs are winning the cup! If this was my team, the _________, we wouldnt have done this or that. Remember in 1946 when ________ won the ________ cup? good times.

Bleh i'll just put the default response of other teams fans to a good news post about another team.

OMG the ______ are not gonna make the playoffs! I cant believe you signed _______ to a __ year contract for ___ per year! Leafs are winning the cup! If this was my team, the _________, we wouldnt have done this or that. Remember in 1946 when ________ won the ________ cup? good times.
- Xnightwish

Not to mention these 8 years run through the prime of his career, more or less.
- rmdevil313

Also, you pay for the UFA years you take up as well. Players like Zajac are so important to a team, they deserve to be paid well.

Is NJ the Oilers of the East? Do the Devils really have to overpay their own guys just to keep them in Jersey?

What ever happend to Lou being stingy and building a team based on harworking players and not stars?

First, Kovalchuk and now this?

Wow.

Sorry, I don't mean to be negative in the Devils thread.

I just have to wonder what Lou is thinking. Would Zajac really not signed for a reasonable number?

If your going to overpay, why not wait till the summer and overpay a star like Getzlaf or Perry? I can't see those guys getting much more than 7M/per.

I'd pay an extra 1.25M to get one of those two over Zajac.

Unless, like I said, Lou doesn't think he can attract free agents (Ie the Oilers problem I referred to).

Is NJ the Oilers of the East? Do the Devils really have to overpay their own guys just to keep them in Jersey?

What ever happend to Lou being stingy and building a team based on harworking players and not stars?

First, Kovalchuk and now this?

Wow.
- Charliebox

In all fairness to the Devils though, if they lost Zajac in free agency next summer, as has been the case with many of their recent free agents, who would they acquire to replace him? I am sure that they were very afraid of being left very weak down the middle, without having a great replacement in the prospect pipe line. Sometimes you just have to pay the piper based on the composition of the team, and whether you have any ability to replace the player with a better more cost efficient option. I am not seeing that option for the Devils.

I still feel like $5.75 is too much. Leave it to Lou to immediately choose the longest possible contract.

There's nothing in his game that suggests he can net 30 goals, like someone in the beginning of this thread mentioned. But even that's irrelevant because he's not here to score goals, he's here to set up Kovy and give him some room.

If all goes well, hopefully we'll be needing money to spend on Larsson and Henrique in the coming years.

In all fairness to the Devils though, if they lost Zajac in free agency next summer, as has been the case with many of their recent free agents, who would they acquire to replace him? I am sure that they were very afraid of being left very weak down the middle, without having a great replacement in the prospect pipe line. Sometimes you just have to pay the piper based on the composition of the team, and whether you have any ability to replace the player with a better more cost efficient option. I am not seeing that option for the Devils.
- Pete V

I don't want to sound harsh in the Devils thread, but if the guy walked, then maybe it would be time for the Devils to consider rebuilding.

poop, Parise walked.. Marty is pretty much done.. it's a shortened season so it's not like the fans would have had to suffer too long if they dealt Zajac for a nice package for the future.

Jeez Lou is a class guy and all, but jesus this is just bad money.
60P gets you 6M? Jesus. Top 5 player in the world in Stamkos just signed for 7.5M a few years back. At this pace Giroux could get 10M

Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly and PK Subban along with their agents are slobbering over this now...

Jeez Lou is a class guy and all, but jesus this is just bad money.
60P gets you 6M? Jesus. Top 5 player in the world in Stamkos just signed for 7.5M a few years back. At this pace Giroux could get 10M

Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly and PK Subban along with their agents are slobbering over this now...
- FLYERSROCK!

everyone seems to be judging him on last season which he barely played and then the year before when they had a brutal coach for half the season and parise injured all year he is alot more valuable then what everyone is pointing out and those contracts were signed when the cba was different also the grabo comparision is perfect i would take zajac on my team every day of the week over him and yet he signed a 5 mil contract

Jeez Lou is a class guy and all, but jesus this is just bad money.
60P gets you 6M? Jesus. Top 5 player in the world in Stamkos just signed for 7.5M a few years back. At this pace Giroux could get 10M

Jamie Benn, Ryan O'Reilly and PK Subban along with their agents are slobbering over this now...
- FLYERSROCK!

mc79hockey ‏@mc79hockey
That Zajac deal looks awfully Horcoffian to me.

Mixed emotions about this signing. Glad we got Travis locked up, even though it is quite a large cap hit. Other the other hand, Lou easily could have locked Parise up, and chose not too. At least he learned from his mistake I guess.

Nice signing for Devils. A lot of dough, but I'm sure there was going to be a team that offered him 6+ if he made it to FA. Strong all around player.


Parise - one dimensional? Sorry, but that the epitome of sour grapes or no knowledge on the subject.

3rd liner centre's put up 60+ points and 20+ goals regularly?
- Todd.Cordell

You mean the 2times out of 6seasons he has done that? lol
I wouldn't call that regularly...

Being over 8yrs, I think its a touch overpayment, but he's still only 28 and playing with Kovy could put up some big numbers. Good to see the Devils lock a guy up...

First thing I have to say about this deal is, at least we locked our best center up long-term. Second thing is, I'm not so sure 8 years was the long-term I was hoping for. 5-6 years was my hope, but hey I'm not Lou. Lastly, 5.75M is a decent number average for a guy like Zajac whose better days are ahead of him.

You've got to think, the cap will only increase from here, thus making that number smaller and smaller with each season's passing. The man would have gotten much more than 5.75M come July 5th had NJ not re-signed him now, just sayin'.

my bad. i thought this said zach parise.