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Hearings have been scheduled for the 44 players who filed for player-elected salary arbitration in advance of the 5 p.m. (ET) deadline on July 5th.

As far as New Jersey representatives go, Blake Coleman is up first with a hearing on July 22nd. Stefan Noesen's comes August 1st.

I expect both players will be extended prior to arbitration. Coleman is the bigger priority right now with his hearing just over a week away.

I'm told Coleman's representatives have had preliminary talks with Ray Shero and co. but they're not too far along yet. The two sides are expected to engage in more serious discussions within the next few days.

With Coleman just a year away from unrestricted free agency, I'd guess the Devils would want to go beyond a single season. That seems like a better idea than doing this all over again next summer, and with less leverage, given the lucrative contracts handed out to role players this month.

I don't know how much offense Coleman will bring to the table moving forward but his defensive impact is real. Last season he ranked 35th among forwards in 5v5 Defensive Goals Above Replacement and 2nd to only Taylor Hall on the Devils. He was also a key member of the penalty kill.

As for Noesen, I'm less inclined to give him a multi-year deal as he is a restricted free agent again next summer. The Devils could make him prove last season was no fluke before paying him without worrying about any outside interest.

Though Noesen's counting totals were slightly better, Coleman was a better chance generator (he averaged 8.07 5v5 chances/60 compared to 6.58), made more of a defensive impact at 5v5, and led Devils forwards in PK ice. Noesen logged less than seven minutes down a man.

Given that, and Coleman is just a year away from UFA status, it's fair to assume his extension will be a little more lucrative.

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