The New Jersey Devils have a lot of decisions to make this offseason. As Devils President and General Manager Tom Fitzgerald said during his year-end media availability, he is not bringing back the same group because it was not good enough.
Fitzgerald upgraded his defense last season getting Brett Pesce, Johnathan Kovacevic, and Brenden Dillon. He added Brian Dumoulin and Dennis Cholowski at the deadline as the team was dealing with injuries to Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler. Those players returned, but the Devils lost Kovacevic, Dillon, and Luke Hughes in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
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It was clear during the regular season and became magnified in the playoffs. New Jersey needed depth at that position because the six guys they ran out every game were getting worn out. They did not have the depth to extend the series after those injuries. Give credit to Simon Nemec, who stepped up and played a solid two-way game. He earned the confidence of head coach Sheldon Keefe to be out on the ice in critical situations.
From Game 3 on, he was one of the Devils best defensemen. However, he still has a ways to go in his development to be an everyday defenseman in the NHL. Not to mention, he was humbled last season. Is Seamus Casey ready to take the next step? New Jersey can’t keep relying on these young guys in critical situations when they aren’t prepared.
During an appearance on Pucks in 7 with Ryan Paton and Victoria Matiash, the New Jersey Devils’ offseason was discussed. In addition to their offensive needs, the needs on defense were also discussed.
TheDevilsNation.com Transcriptions
The New Jersey Devils Signed Forward Arseniy Gritsyuk
Victoria Matiash: “Defensive core-wise, let’s just say everybody’s healthy. (Jonas) Siegenthaler is healthy. Luke Hughes is healthy. Dougie Hamilton is healthy. Brett Pesce is healthy. Are you satisfied, or do they need another piece?”
Jim Biringer: “They need, you can clearly see they need, like, a six, seven, maybe a eight guy. Like I think they probably going to keep around (Brian) Dumoulin. I think he was a good addition to this team. You could see what he’s brought, the pedigree that he’s brought. Maybe they try to keep him around, but you can clearly see that either they don’t trust the young guys enough yet.
Nemec has taken a step.”
Matiash: “Nemec?”
Biringer: “Nemec, yeah, he’s coming, but can they consistently count on him? Seamus Casey, if you’re going to play Dennis Cholowski eight-nine minutes, you might as well just put Seamus Casey in and do the same thing to him. Because at this point, what else do you have to lose?
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But you have to find depth, quality NHL defensemen that when you do have injuries. Guys can step into the lineup and play 10 to 15 minutes a game and not be on the bench, and only can play eight, nine minutes a game. That’s not going to serve a team well come the playoffs again. And I think that’s another area that they’re going to have to look at.
Don’t forget, Luke Hughes is due for a new contract extension as well.”
Again, the New Jersey Devils will have to make some tough decisions to open up cap space to add players to the roster. As mentioned, Luke Hughes needs a new contract, and many wonder what he will get on a long-term extension. Could it be in the $7 million to $8 million range?
It will be interesting to see what Fitzgerald has in mind for Johnathan Kovacevic, who will be unable to start the season after signing that new contract around the trade deadline. But the Devils need another NHL-ready defenseman that the coaching staff can trust to play in the big moments of games later on in the season.
Again, the New Jersey Devils have a lot of work to do this offseason and not a lot of money to do it with.
