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Some names that may be of interest to Nux fans:

 

Devils Notes: Wood, Bahl, Boqvist

June 10th, 2023 at 5:00pm CST • By Ethan Hetu

With two major restricted free agents to negotiate contract extensions with in Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt, it’s no surprise that the New Jersey Devils may be forced to say goodbye to some familiar faces. Damon Severson, a quality blueliner with over 600 games played as a Devil, was traded yesterdayand, according to recent reporting, another veteran Devil could follow him out the door: Miles Wood.

The Hockey News’ Kristy Flannery relays wordfrom Wood’s agent, Peter Fish, “that there has been no communication” with Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald on a possible Wood contract extension. While it’s likely that the Devils would ideally like to keep Wood, their salary cap situation and other existing needs are likely to force his exit in free agency. As a result, Fish and Wood are preparing to hit the open market on July 1st. Wood will hope to find the right contract in his first trip to unrestricted free agency, and after scoring 13 goals and 27 points this past season his rare combination of size and speed could be of interest to other teams.

 

Some other notes about the Devils:

  • Flannery’s article also contained updates on the status of restricted free agent defenseman Kevin Bahl, whose $795k contract is set to expire. The soon-to-be 23-year-old emerged as a lineup regular for the Devils later in their season and is widely expected to be a part of the team’s blueline mix next season. Given that he has just 66 games of NHL experience, Bahl’s next contract shouldn’t break the bank, though the defensive upside the hulking six-foot-six Bahl possesses could be factored into the equation as well, potentially raising the price tag of any new deal. Bahl’s agent, David Gagner, confirmed to Flannery that he and Fitzgerald “are engaging in preliminary talks,” and it could be that the Devils would prefer to get some cost certainty on Bahl’s next deal before finalizing the Meier/Bratt contracts.
  • 24-year-old forward Jesper Boqvist‘s agent Peter Wallen relayed to Flannerythat “there has been no communication with Fitzgerald and the Devils” on any new contract as of five days ago. Boqvist emerged as a lineup regular this past season scoring 10 goals and 21 points in 70 games. The 2017 36th overall pick has scored well at lower levels and the Devils are likely hoping to retain him on an affordable deal so they can fill out some depth roles in their lineup with young, energetic homegrown players such as Boqvist on cheaper contracts.
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48 minutes ago, Doxm said:

I would love Bahl. 6'6 230lb monster who could benefit from time with Gonchar/Foote. 

Doesn't sound like he's available.  They are looking to get an extension done as he's expected to be a lineup regular next season.  

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1 minute ago, mll said:

Doesn't sound like he's available.  They are looking to get an extension done as he's expected to be a lineup regular next season.  

NJ will not be trading Bahl 6'6 - 235 had a decent season and still young.. 

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19 minutes ago, LegionOfDoom said:

What’s wood gunna be worth? I really like his game, could see him excelling under tocchet 

Wood 28 - 6'2 - 210 - would look great in Vancouver..Salary 2.7 last season..We need to trade wingers already have lots..

We need a Wood in line up, Tocchet style of player..

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2 minutes ago, wildcam said:

NJ will not be trading Bahl 6'6 - 235 had a decent season and still young.. 

nope - says in the article as well he’s expected to be a regular for them next year.

 

42 minutes ago, MeanSeanBean said:

One Micheal McLeod please 

This guy sounds like a perfect guy to try and land as a player but is part of that hockey Canada investigation.   If that’s cleared, he also had a nice playoffs so they might move to keep him.

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5 minutes ago, wildcam said:

NJ will not be trading Bahl 6'6 - 235 had a decent season and still young.. 

Of course they won't.  Cost controlled when NJD has cap issues.  Severson dealt, Smith not really a lineup regular anymore + Graves UFA looking to break the bank.  He's going to be in their top-6 next season.  

 

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Folks shouldn't get excited about sniping cap casualty players.  No team has more money committed than we do.  We are the team that most needs to shake players loose.

I repeated over and over again between November and the trade deadline (when the season was already effectively lost), that we had to move out as many players as possible to accrue assets and cap space.  This summer was going to be the tightest cap situation league-wide in history.  Virtually no money left in the whole system.  Plenty of good players will shake out for pennies on the dollar, and solid RFAs won't be qualified because their teams can't afford a high arbitration award that they aren't allowed to walk away from contractually.

Instead, we committed more cap that any other team in the league and used premium assets to do it.  Hronek is a good player, he also cost us a lot and is going to be due a huge raise in a year.  There will be D available for just cap space, just like Marino was last year.  I take a team friendly cost-controlled Marino for several more years and a mid 1st round pick over Hronek at $7 million or more for his extension... or who can take a qualifying offer and then walk as a UFA a year later.

Kuzmemko is also a good player, he was also on a very cheap ELC deal that would have made him worth a mint to contenders at the deadline.  A top line producing winger at under a million?  That gives you a 1st round pick and the top prospect from most teams.  There will be many good wingers available at a fraction of that trade cost this summer, or even free.

You are going to be shocked at the players who move and are picked up this summer.  It is a really good year to be Chicago if they want to start rebuilding their roster now that they have Bedard.  They can take on good players from cap strapped teams AND get assets for the privilege.  Some of them will be good young players they want on their roster long term.  They got rid of a ton of cap at the deadline, and can now use it. While they aren't likely going to be going out and spending all the high draft picks they acquired, they aren't going to have to.

 

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1 hour ago, ilduce39 said:

nope - says in the article as well he’s expected to be a regular for them next year.

 

This guy sounds like a perfect guy to try and land as a player but is part of that hockey Canada investigation.   If that’s cleared, he also had a nice playoffs so they might move to keep him.

They would want 2nd rounder and top prospect..minimum if they trade if.. NJ need his size and toughness..

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25 minutes ago, wildcam said:

They would want 2nd rounder and top prospect..minimum if they trade if.. NJ need his size and toughness..

Yeah it would take a ton to shake him loose - (I was agreeing with you, just to clarify, “nope” as in, nope they aren’t looking to trade him!)

 

 

(would be a great target if they were, though.)

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