Todd Cordell: New Jersey Devils: Decision On Stephen Gionta To Come After The Draft

Finally. They need a 4th line that can chip in some goals and show some grit. Gionta was a great PK guy but there are way better options for a 4th line.

A nice player who never really belonged in the NHL. He had the effort, but not much else.

I hope he isn't signed

A nice player who never really belonged in the NHL. He had the effort, but not much else.
- willschulme

I have to agree. It wouldn't be the end of the world if they signed him to league minimum (especially a two way deal) to be the 13th/14th forward but if he is a regular in the lineup over a younger player I would not be happy with the signing.

Gotta appreciate the effort but not the 1.6 shooting percentage. Get someone younger, bigger and with some potential instead.

Any word on the other free agents?

In my opinion let the following UFAs go:

Ruutu (UFA)
Trusty (UFA)
Waforsky (UFA)

I'd sign one of the following UFAs to league minimum (preferably 2-way) deal and let the others walk:

Tootoo (UFA)
Gionta (UFA)
Farnham (UFA)
Kennedy (UFA)


Elias (UFA) I think 1 year 3 million would be fair and I think he would help with Zacha (3rd line)

Schlemko (UFA) 1 year 1 million just to give youngsters another year to develop unless they have plans to go out and sign an UFA which may be costly.


Palmer (RFA) 5 yr $25 million
Boucher (RFA) 2yr 3.25 (1.5/1.75)
Smith-Pelli (RFA) 2 yr 2.75 M (1.25/1.5)
Josefson (RFA) 1 yr 2 M (as much as he does not score the pp is much better with him and he kills penalties) Let him prove he deserves more on a 1 year deal.
Kalinin (RFA) 2 yr $2.75 M(1.25/1.5)
Merrill (RFA) 1 yr $882 K qualifying offer (settle for no more than $1 M and try to trade during the season.

Schlemko (UFA) 1 year 1 million just to give youngsters another year to develop unless they have plans to go out and sign an UFA which may be costly.

I don't know, he had a pretty good year. I don't see him signing for 1 mil.

I don't know, he had a pretty good year. I don't see him signing for 1 mil.
- rsherman

I thought that too but it was only one good year. I would go up a little but I think you can get a comparable defensemen for 2 million and I do not see him in the long term plans.

We had a bigger younger player that we like to make watch us play but we traded him for smith pelly lol

Any word on the other free agents?

In my opinion let the following UFAs go:

Ruutu (UFA)
Trusty (UFA)
Waforsky (UFA)

I'd sign one of the following UFAs to league minimum (preferably 2-way) deal and let the others walk:

Tootoo (UFA)
Gionta (UFA)
Farnham (UFA)
Kennedy (UFA)


Elias (UFA) I think 1 year 3 million would be fair and I think he would help with Zacha (3rd line)

Schlemko (UFA) 1 year 1 million just to give youngsters another year to develop unless they have plans to go out and sign an UFA which may be costly.


Palmer (RFA) 5 yr $25 million
Boucher (RFA) 2yr 3.25 (1.5/1.75)
Smith-Pelli (RFA) 2 yr 2.75 M (1.25/1.5)
Josefson (RFA) 1 yr 2 M (as much as he does not score the pp is much better with him and he kills penalties) Let him prove he deserves more on a 1 year deal.
Kalinin (RFA) 2 yr $2.75 M(1.25/1.5)
Merrill (RFA) 1 yr $882 K qualifying offer (settle for no more than $1 M and try to trade during the season.
- Devils622

Agreed with most of this exact some things. Schlemko's not gonna accept that money or maybe even term. And Elias at 3 mil, for what? He better be under 2 mil if he is resigned. If he wants 3 mil, then spend that 3 mil elsewhere or let Blandisi on the 3rd line with Zacha. Josefson shouldn't get 2 mil for being on the 4th line, and while he did help some last year, if Zacha is in NJ, I could see him take over JJs role on the PP. And I think they should sign DSP, Kalinen, and Bocuher to 1 year deals, not 2. And lastly, out of all those UFA's I wouldn't bring any back. If DSP is on the 3rd line, I would rather Pietilla be on the 4th not Tootoo.

This is how I see the team with what we currently have:

Cam(would trade)-Henrique-?
Boucher(should start the year here)-Zajac-Palmieri
Elias/Blandisi-Zacha(if playing)-Blandisi(with Elias)/DSP
Kalinen-Josefson-DSP(with Elias)/Pietilla(without Elias)

I think we should jettison all of the garbage 4th liners to make way for Rod Pelley again.

Also, easily give Shlemko 2.5mil. Guy is the real deal and we should keep him around for a couple of years to bridge younger guys into the lineup.

Continuing for other post...

Our defense needs 1 top 4 guy on the LS, but with the expansion it can't be a Yandle because if he get a NMC/NTC, then we would have to lose Greene, Larsson, or Severson, for pennies, and Greene is better defensively then Yandle.

Wideman could be a good stopgap for next year.

It would not surprise me either way if the Devils decide to sign Gionta for another season. Here is smart, veteran player who can play either center or wing and can kill penalties. However, I have a strong feeling that Shero and Co. wants to move on and put together a 4th line that produces some goals and that means no Gionta.

If the Devils decide to move on and Gionta does not get another NHL job, I would like to see Gionta play for the Albany Devills and become their new captain and leader. I think Gionta can be leader and a great example to young players of what it means to be a professional hockey player.

Also, easily give Shlemko 2.5mil. Guy is the real deal and we should keep him around for a couple of years to bridge younger guys into the lineup.
- Pomegrant

If Ray doesn't land a flashier FA defenseman that's fine. Even at 2.5 for 2 years he's decent trade bait.

I think we should jettison all of the garbage 4th liners to make way for Rod Pelley again.

Also, easily give Shlemko 2.5mil. Guy is the real deal and we should keep him around for a couple of years to bridge younger guys into the lineup.
- Pomegrant

Glad someone else sees it. He's not signing here for 1 mil. Other GMs would punce on better offers since while he isn't a top pairing defender, he can play the PP and eat minutes. Mark Fayne got 3+ million let that sink in if you think Schlemko is coming back to the Devils for 1 million.

Glad someone else sees it. He's not signing here for 1 mil. Other GMs would punce on better offers since while he isn't a top pairing defender, he can play the PP and eat minutes. Mark Fayne got 3+ million let that sink in if you think Schlemko is coming back to the Devils for 1 million.
- Mr.Bobby

He is one of the few that I feel has earned another contract.

They should target Nathan Mackinnon in Colorado. Tender him $5,632,847 a year for 5 to 6 years once free agency begins. At 20 years old and 50 points per, he is worth the 1st and 3rd in compensation. Same salary range as Landeskog.

They should target Nathan Mackinnon in Colorado. Tender him $5,632,847 a year for 5 to 6 years once free agency begins. At 20 years old and 50 points per, he is worth the 1st and 3rd in compensation. Same salary range as Landeskog.
- Relentless

They'd match

Let him go .problem is he WILL TAKE a roster spot of someone young who can score 😇.

Sign elias
Even shlemko
Sign Boucher
Sign smith pelly
Sign one two top 6 wingers , let's say

Cammi-Henry -okposo
Boucher -zajac - palmieri
Elias -Zacha -DSP
Blandisi-jojo-Kalinin

If I were GM I would definitely ditch Gionta. He was fun, but the team doesn't need him anymore. Re-sign Palmieri to a 4.5/5m contract. Plus, I'd keep Elias (2/2.5m) to play on our third line to let Blandisi work on his defense in Albany (maybe he'll develop chemistry with Q?). The other thing I'd try to do is get Datsyuk's contract from Detroit along with the 1st. I'd think giving them Scarlett, a third this year (both?), and one of our seconds next year could make the deal fair for both sides. (The dream would be if we got Keller and Gauthier with them; that would help us a lot!). Beyond that shake up our lineup and you get this:

Cam (5) - Hen (4) - Ste (3(1yr))
Bou (1.5(2yr)) - Zaj (5.75) - Palm (4.5 (6yr))
Eli (2.5(1yr)) - Zac (.9) - Pel (1.5 (2yr))
Pie (.7) - Jos (1.5(3yr)) - Kal (1.5 (1yr))
Sis (.8) - Risk/Rew guy like ste/tlu last year? (1 (1yr))

Gre (5) - Lar (4.2)
Sch (3 (12yr)) - Sev (.6)
Moo (1.7) - Auvitu/Mozik (.8)
Mer (.9)

Sch (6)
Kin (.7)

This puts us at around $65m (With Clowe and Sav on LTIR) and even sets us up for expansion. I have read that the expansion draft is requiring 1 dman and 2 forwards to be left unprotected with term in 2017/18. So, we'd have Moore open on defense, and it gives us the option of Pelly, Josefson, or even Zajac (depending on who we draft this/next year of course) to be left open in the forward position.

Let him go .problem is he WILL TAKE a roster spot of someone young who can score 😇.

Sign elias
Even shlemko
Sign Boucher
Sign smith pelly
Sign one two top 6 wingers , let's say

Cammi-Henry -okposo
Boucher -zajac - palmieri
Elias -Zacha -DSP
Blandisi-jojo-Kalinin
- thechezman

Blandisi should not be on the 4th line. If he is, then he should be in Albany.

Elias-Zacha-Blandisi (great creativity)
Kalinen-JJ-DSP

If I were GM I would definitely ditch Gionta. He was fun, but the team doesn't need him anymore. Re-sign Palmieri to a 4.5/5m contract. Plus, I'd keep Elias (2/2.5m) to play on our third line to let Blandisi work on his defense in Albany (maybe he'll develop chemistry with Q?). The other thing I'd try to do is get Datsyuk's contract from Detroit along with the 1st. I'd think giving them Scarlett, a third this year (both?), and one of our seconds next year could make the deal fair for both sides. (The dream would be if we got Keller and Gauthier with them; that would help us a lot!). Beyond that shake up our lineup and you get this:

Cam (5) - Hen (4) - Ste (3(1yr))
Bou (1.5(2yr)) - Zaj (5.75) - Palm (4.5 (6yr))
Eli (2.5(1yr)) - Zac (.9) - Pel (1.5 (2yr))
Pie (.7) - Jos (1.5(3yr)) - Kal (1.5 (1yr))
Sis (.8) - Risk/Rew guy like ste/tlu last year? (1 (1yr))

Gre (5) - Lar (4.2)
Sch (3 (12yr)) - Sev (.6)
Moo (1.7) - Auvitu/Mozik (.8)
Mer (.9)

Sch (6)
Kin (.7)

This puts us at around $65m (With Clowe and Sav on LTIR) and even sets us up for expansion. I have read that the expansion draft is requiring 1 dman and 2 forwards to be left unprotected with term in 2017/18. So, we'd have Moore open on defense, and it gives us the option of Pelly, Josefson, or even Zajac (depending on who we draft this/next year of course) to be left open in the forward position.
- IrischesGlueck

If Jared Cowen is bought by TOR, I would be interested to see what he may be able to do with Severson.

Empty out the trash can ray!

Tuesday @ 5:36 PM ET
Any word on the other free agents?

In my opinion let the following UFAs go:

Ruutu (UFA)
Trusty (UFA)
Waforsky (UFA)

I'd sign one of the following UFAs to league minimum (preferably 2-way) deal and let the others walk:

Tootoo (UFA)
Gionta (UFA)
Farnham (UFA)
Kennedy (UFA)


Elias (UFA) I think 1 year 3 million would be fair and I think he would help with Zacha (3rd line)

Schlemko (UFA) 1 year 1 million just to give youngsters another year to develop unless they have plans to go out and sign an UFA which may be costly.


Palmer (RFA) 5 yr $25 million
Boucher (RFA) 2yr 3.25 (1.5/1.75)
Smith-Pelli (RFA) 2 yr 2.75 M (1.25/1.5)
Josefson (RFA) 1 yr 2 M (as much as he does not score the pp is much better with him and he kills penalties) Let him prove he deserves more on a 1 year deal.
Kalinin (RFA) 2 yr $2.75 M(1.25/1.5)
Merrill (RFA) 1 yr $882 K qualifying offer (settle for no more than $1 M and try to trade during the season.
- Devils622


Agreed with most of this exact some things. Schlemko's not gonna accept that money or maybe even term. And Elias at 3 mil, for what? He better be under 2 mil if he is resigned. If he wants 3 mil, then spend that 3 mil elsewhere or let Blandisi on the 3rd line with Zacha. Josefson shouldn't get 2 mil for being on the 4th line, and while he did help some last year, if Zacha is in NJ, I could see him take over JJs role on the PP. And I think they should sign DSP, Kalinen, and Bocuher to 1 year deals, not 2. And lastly, out of all those UFA's I wouldn't bring any back. If DSP is on the 3rd line, I would rather Pietilla be on the 4th not Tootoo.

This is how I see the team with what we currently have:

Cam(would trade)-Henrique-?
Boucher(should start the year here)-Zajac-Palmieri
Elias/Blandisi-Zacha(if playing)-Blandisi(with Elias)/DSP
Kalinen-Josefson-DSP(with Elias)/Pietilla(without Elias)


-devils9503

Elias, while injured most of the year has put up around .5ppg over his last 82gp. Giving him 1/3 isn't unreasonable. If you go 2 years, I could see him taking 2-2.5M.

As for JJ, giving him $1M per isn't bad for a 4th liner that adds value on the PK and can fill in well on the 2nd PP unit. I'd give him 2/2. Otherwise you might be looking at $1.25M for a one year deal.