For players like Zubrus, Ryder, Hablat and Salvador, the possibility of retirement or that they will have to find employment in the KHL or somewhere else outside the NHL, is very real. At this time, most teams have their NHL roster set, some teams are looking to add a player or two, and some teams have to trim their roster before the season begins. The above mentioned players did very little last season to warrant contracts or invitations to try out for the few spots available in the NHL.
It is interesting that the Devils are one of the NHL teams with the most spots available on their roster. Currently, they have only 10 forwards (I am discounting Clowe because of his situation) and 6 defensemen under contracts. The Devils will start the season with 13 or 14 forwards and 7 or 8 defensemen. Because of their need for right wings, I will not be surprised if the Devils extend an invitation to Bernier to come to camp. At the moment. Only Palmieri and Tootoo are natural right wings under contract. I am sure Thompson will get a look at RW and perhaps, also Gionta, Kalinin and Zacha.
With the Devils already having centermen, Zajac, Elias, Henrique, Josefson and Gionta under contract and are also bringing centermen, Kalinin, Zacha, Coleman, Blandisi, Kajawinski, Quenneville and O'Brien to camp, I doubt that the Devils will extend an invitation to Gomez to come to camp. Gomez will have to find another NHL team to invite him to camp.
Zidlicky seem to be close to a deal with the Islander. I have not doubt that a productive defenseman like him will find a spot on an NHL team team this coming season.
