Several people over the last few days have asked me about the possibility Ryan Suter signs with the New Jersey Devils if he is available July 1st and Zach Parise doesn't re-sign. Today, I'll answer that and look at a few players the Devils could target with the 29th overall pick next week.

- Suter is not going to sign with the Devils if he does test free agency July 1st, regardless of what happens with Parise. First off, if Parise doesn't re-sign with New Jersey, it's because they don't have the money to sign him. If they can't sign Parise, how in the world could they give Suter a 8+ year contract front loaded? Answer: they can't. To top that all off, there are rumors floating around suggesting Suter would much rather sign in the Western Conference than in the Eastern Conference, so that works against his case to sign with the Devils as well.

- Peter Harrold played pretty well for the Devils this season, but due to a log-jam on the blue line I don't think he'll be back. Devils President and General Manager Lou Lamoriello will probably offer him a two-way contract, but in the end I think Harrold will test free agency and sign a one-way contract with another NHL team. He played well and deserves a one-way contract somewhere. I'm not saying he should get big money, but I could see him signing a one or two year deal worth one million per season.

- Despite how the season ended, I expect Steve Bernier to re-sign with the Devils. I expect Stephen Gionta and Ryan Carter back as well, all on one or two-year one-way contracts. I think all three of them proved they can play at this level and that they are deserving of one-way contracts.

- The draft is a week today. A few guys I could keep my eye on next Friday: Scott Laughton of the Oshawa Generals, Pontus Aberg from the Swedish Elite League and Daniil Zharkov from the Belleville bulls. Laughton is a solid two-way center who can play in all situations. He's not afraid to mix it up or engage physically, either. Aberg is a speedy, skilled Swedish winger. Zharkov is a big Russian forward who possesses high end skill and isn't afraid to use his body or drive to the net. All three of them will likely be drafted from the 25-35 range.

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