That's about right but he's allegedly asking for more like $4 million a year. He'll score more than Ryan Clowe though so for the Devils it will be a bargain.

3-3.5 million is way too much for a player who's played 1 year in the NHL. If it is that much I hope it's only 2 year contract. I'd rather take grabowski who has played several years in NHL and has shown with right line and coach can be very good.
- Ocean24

Henrique doesn't do as well on the wing and Zajac his the only guy on this team who can win a face off I wouldn't mind his production but we would have a log jam of centers Zajac/Henrique/Loktionov/Gionta/JJ

That's about right but he's allegedly asking for more like $4 million a year. He'll score more than Ryan Clowe though so for the Devils it will be a bargain.
- noffsin6

Does he create his own offense? or does he need a Zetterberg/Datsyuk to give him freebees

Todd Cordell: Report: New Jersey Devils Very Interested in Damien Brunner
- Todd.Cordell

Excellent idea. Shows the Devils aren't quiting and Brunner is money in shootouts. Silver lining to a crappy week.

Does he create his own offense? or does he need a Zetterberg/Datsyuk to give him freebees
- blizzzard

He's not going to cut through the defense on his own but he can be sneaky and pop up for a breakaway every now and then.

He's not going to cut through the defense on his own but he can be sneaky and pop up for a breakaway every now and then.
- noffsin6

That's not bad then I realise you wont be getting a guy who can go end to end through a whole team at this point in free agency but it is good to know he isn't a d'agostini that has a great shot but no clue of when to shoot it or much offensive hockey I.Q

The Sabres would probably begin the conversation with wanting Henrique and/or Larsson and a 2nd if you sign him to an extension or your 1st in 2015.
- Mathwil3

...and they would end with getting back Damien Brunner.

...and they would end with getting back Damien Brunner.
- devils-fan

sabres are asking for a pominville-type return. so, a 1st round pick, a 2nd round pick, a top prospect, and a mid-level prospect.

Lou's going to trade Brodeur for draft picks and prospects!!!

No need for 2 starting goalies!!!

That's not bad then I realise you wont be getting a guy who can go end to end through a whole team at this point in free agency but it is good to know he isn't a d'agostini that has a great shot but no clue of when to shoot it or much offensive hockey I.Q
- blizzzard

He's got a nose for the puck for sure.

He's got a nose for the puck for sure.
- noffsin6

Oh he certainly has a nose

please be true

Yep and thus it's not going to happen.
- MannySilvers

he's the top sniper in the league thats available..what do you think?..you're going to get him for nothing? this is a 40 goal man with a half decent center

he's the top sniper in the league thats available..what do you think?..you're going to get him for nothing? this is a 40 goal man with a half decent center
- French-Connection

vanek sucks dude

he's the top sniper in the league thats available..what do you think?..you're going to get him for nothing? this is a 40 goal man with a half decent center
- French-Connection

The Devils could just keep Henrique and Larsson. Then in 2014 they can hope to grab a free agent. Why would they give away their best young center an defenseman for a guy who's going to test the open market.

he's the top sniper in the league thats available..what do you think?..you're going to get him for nothing? this is a 40 goal man with a half decent center
- French-Connection

I'm saying we're not going to get him because we aren't parting with Larsson and Henrique. ESPECIALLY if it's just for one year of Vanek.

If there's one thing I've learned through this whole thing is that the Devils shouldn't build their whole team around one sniper. The worst thing the Devils could do right now is trade the farm to get Vanek, even if made them better next year.

he's the top sniper in the league thats available..what do you think?..you're going to get him for nothing? this is a 40 goal man with a half decent center
- French-Connection

Yea he isn't the type 40 goal guy we need. On our team the way it is structured he would be a 29 goal guy and he will want to be resigned at the same or more after his good year. Also if he doesn't really want to sit in Buffalo why would he want to come and resign here when we will have to fight tooth and nail to make the play offs. Then there is this why would we give up on a 20 year old defenseman taken fourth overall but was pegged to go #1 ? the Flyers wont give up Couter for Weber why would or should we give up Larsson for Vanek and Henrique a calder runner up. Would you give up Myers and Grigorenko to get Vanek at 1 year and 7.5

Henrique doesn't do as well on the wing and Zajac his the only guy on this team who can win a face off I wouldn't mind his production but we would have a log jam of centers Zajac/Henrique/Loktionov/Gionta/JJ
- blizzzard

This is exactly why the "depth" at center is a fallacy. You have to win faceoffs if you're going to rely on puck possession to keep you from getting blown out.

NJ would absolutely use Grabovski. If Henrique is as great & a keeper as some assume, then he should be able to acclimate to the wing as should JJ if necessary (one of them should)

If you can't win faceoffs, then you cant expect to be glued to the center position.

Elias- Zajac-Ryder
Clowe-Grabovski-Brunner
Henrique/JJ/Loktionov--JJ/Henrique/Loktionov--Zurbrus
CBGB

Not that horrible.

This is exactly why the "depth" at center is a fallacy. You have to win faceoffs if you're going to rely on puck possession to keep you from getting blown out.

NJ would absolutely use Grabovski. If Henrique is as great & a keeper as some assume, then he should be able to acclimate to the wing as should JJ if necessary (one of them should)

If you can't win faceoffs, then you cant expect to be glued to the center position.

Elias- Zajac-Ryder
Clowe-Grabovski-Brunner
Henrique/JJ/Loktionov--JJ/Henrique/Loktionov--Zurbrus
CBGB

Not that horrible.
- FLdevilsFAN

No but Henrique still has a lot of potential he had a bit of a down here coming off a calder nominee year but he is 23 and he has lots of time to improve and face offs is something you can learn at the age of 36 its not a necessity for him to be great at them at 23 so long as he is make strides in offensive production. Henrique is the last player on this team I would give up on. He has a grade A personality works hard and I imagine he has very good leadership qualities.I would give him a bit of time a year and a half or so to figure out if he is what we think he is or if he had one good year and is a third line NHL player. I am also not saying winning face offs isn't important but is Grabo that good at them either ? Bozak was the Leafs face off man from what I can recall.

Lou's going to trade Brodeur for draft picks and prospects!!!

No need for 2 starting goalies!!!
- jimmc7722

last time I checked mike milbury isn't the devils GM?

The Devils could just keep Henrique and Larsson. Then in 2014 they can hope to grab a free agent. Why would they give away their best young center an defenseman for a guy who's going to test the open market.
- tomburton99

Why would the devils trade offense for offense??

No but Henrique still has a lot of potential he had a bit of a down here coming off a calder nominee year but he is 23 and he has lots of time to improve and face offs is something you can learn at the age of 36 its not a necessity for him to be great at them at 23 so long as he is make strides in offensive production. Henrique is the last player on this team I would give up on. He has a grade A personality works hard and I imagine he has very good leadership qualities.I would give him a bit of time a year and a half or so to figure out if he is what we think he is or if he had one good year and is a third line NHL player. I am also not saying winning face offs isn't important but is Grabo that good at them either ? Bozak was the Leafs face off man from what I can recall.
- blizzzard

Bozak was the 1st line center, some fans felt this made him feel entitled (despite his production, they were being negative saying he didn't deserve a raise despite it), but Grabo>Lokti>JJ>Gionta.

He would be a 2/3 Center on this team easily. You could argue based off production and history he should slot in the 2C role over Henrique. Not bashing Henrique, just keeping a realistic perspective.

Grabovski isn't a bad fit for this team. Should they break the bank for him? Hell no. Same with Brunner.

But the "depth" on this team is very contingent on a lot of hopeful wishing in my opinion.

Right now, as this roster stands, with Ryder & Elias presumably on the same line this team has a very very good shot of ranking dead last in goals scored next year.

vanek sucks dude
- RAGSareDANGERus

ya ok..lol..by the way, good luck with lame AV as ur coach

Why would the devils trade offense for offense??
- GioRock

If there's anything the Devils should do is try to trade some of their solid but not amazing D prospects to a team for some solid but not amazing forward prospects. You'd think there'd be a partner somewhere.

Henrique should be signed to a prove it type of contract. For lets say around 2-2.75 or something like that. Josefson should get no more then a million and a million is being way too generous should be slightly over league minimum hes proven nothing. We should have a lot of cap space to work once these guys are signed.