Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils Sign Brandon Gormley
- Todd.Cordell

Nothing to hate here. Rather this than an aging veteran.

I don't think this move provides any insight as far as the organizations overall game plan, just a low cost depth signing. I would'nt read too far into it. This gives Merrill and company a little competition which can't hurt.

The good players out there aren't only looking for money, it is commitment also. The Devils really could be a good team in a year or so, I wouldn't want to have any commitments for a stop gap now that will be cumbersome for the club in a year or two.

Patience my friend, I see much bad-assery ahead.
- TRDevil

I hope you are right. It's just we are sitting with over $ 13M in cap space PLUS we have $9M on injured reserves; which means we could theoretically spend $22M in contracts this year. So I don't see how signing a high quality defenseman (even on a somewhat unfavorable contract) is really detrimental to the team.

That said I realize Ray might not have really liked any of the guys available.

I hope you are right. It's just we are sitting with over $ 13M in cap space PLUS we have $9M on injured reserves; which means we could theoretically spend $22M in contracts this year. So I don't see how signing a high quality defenseman (even on a somewhat unfavorable contract) is really detrimental to the team.

That said I realize Ray might not have really liked any of the guys available.
- Queenie_5_hole

Would love to see Hudler or Vrbata on a tryout basis, like Stempniak, but you figure if they wait that long they'd probably be tempted to join a more enticing roster. But who knows?

@that guy who said we're trading for eberle
Source?

I don't really get this move unless its just taking a flyer on guy they believe has real upside and want some cheap depth. This moves make me think Shero is operating under a somewhat tight budget and he can't go out and spend for a quality defenseman. Our payroll is quite low and despite some big contracts coming off the books we've spent very little.

Everyone makes fun of Peter Chiarelli for the Hall - Larsson trade but Chairelli did go out and signed Milan Lucic to fill in some of the offensive void. Shero has not brought anyone we can expect to reasonably replace Larsson. And the reality is our D wasn't really as brilliant as Cory Schneider made them look last year so we could have used the help before moving Larsson.

None of this is meant as a complaint against Ray. He's made great moves. It just makes me wonder what the real plan is and are our owners more interested in Cash then Cups.
- Queenie_5_hole

This move is not to replace Larsson or Schlemko. Albany lost half its defense as well so this is an AHL signing and if he wins a spot out of camp good for him.

I don't know if Shero has an internal budget or not but throwing money at past their prime players was the demise of Lou and I'm happy to see Shero is being frugal. The Devils should invite a couple veterans to camp on a PTO. If they look good then we sign them to take Larsson's spot for a year (2 tops). If none of the tryouts pan out hopefully a trade is made.

As for Edmonton. NJ won the trade but Edmonton improved with the trade more than NJ since they got their D and Lucic takes over for Hall. I agree they are getting too much bad press for that trade.

Would love to see Hudler or Vrbata on a tryout basis, like Stempniak, but you figure if they wait that long they'd probably be tempted to join a more enticing roster. But who knows?
- jersey1414

If they are waiting this long they may want to try out for a team that gives them the most potential to succeed (i.e. top 6 position) The better teams are loaded for top six. Playing on lesser teams top six still allows for you to be traded at the deadline to a contender and may raise your stock for 2017 (as it did for both Stempniak and Schlemko).

Gelinas has more offensive potential than Gormley, but at times last year looked good making smart decisions with the puck and can hit an outlet pass.

Would rather have Gelinas 10 times out of 10
- DDM-Coga

well that's reassuring.

I'm thinking they are going to want to spread out the scoring, something like:

Hall-Henrique-DSP
Boucher-Zajac-Palmieri
Cammalleri-Zacha-Bennett
Blandisi-JJ/Fidler- Kalinin

Although 2-3 of them could be injured at any given time. It did feel nice to fill out lines and not type Tootoo, Ruutu, Gionta or Farnham.
- Mr.Bobby

idk what rational that can be had for putting Cammalleri on the 3rd line. Limit his minutes? why? Did he need limited minutes last year? He's going to get injured either way. He's 34, not 38, and 2nd line is just fine for our top scorer.

Unless Hall-Henrique-Palmieri is unstoppable, I'd like to keep Palms with Zajac. It's not easy to be able to get points out of a "Zajac line", so if it works with Palmieri on his wing, keep it as such. Hopefully we can find someone that gels with Hall-Henrique.. which I can't imagine being too difficult a task, of course presupposing Hall-Henrique can have the same chemistry they had in Windsor, now a lifetime ago. DSP and Bennet aren't the most inspiring RHS options, but they're worth a try. Then I'd try Blandisi and Boucher, but I'm iffy with them on their off-wings.