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Could a new Devil come from recent buyouts?

It's no surprise that our Devils need some puck moving skill on the backend; should Bryce Salvador remain on LTIR or demoted to Albany, our defense as signed would look something like;

Tallinder-Fayne

White-Volchenkov

With possible 5th/6th defensemen in Urbom, Larsson, Fraser, Taormina, and Corrente. 

While the defense did admirably during he second half of last year, we clearly don't have a consistent point producer. Tallinder is good with his first pass and can lead the rush, while Fayne, Taormina, Larsson, and Urbom are all relatively unproven puckmovers. In lieu of placing so much pressure on our young guys to perform, today's list of buyouts from across the league gives a few more options outside of other UFAs we've been discussing (Ian White, Anton Babchuk, Andy Greene etc). All of the following have been placed on unconditional waivers with the purpose of being bought out. 

Sheldon Souray;

A veteran puckmover, proven point producer, and former Devil, Souray voiced a desire to leave Edmonton last year, was placed on waivers, and finished out the year in Hershey of the AHL. A victim of his large cap hit (5.4 mill/year) and injury concerns, Souray is, however, only 34 (he turns 35 on July 13th) and will not have a 35+ contract should he sign during the 1st week of free agency. For perspective, in his last 50+ game season, he produced 53 points; however, this was two years ago and he is coming off a broken right hand. 

An opinion; For the right price, I'd like to see Lou take a chance on Souray. He did play all of his games down in Hershey, proving that he is back up to speed and over his injuries for the time being. In addition, after going through waivers twice, he could play with quite a chip on his shoulder and with a desire to prove his worth in the NHL. Plus, the fact that he won't be 35 when a contract is likely signed makes him even more desirable. My only worry is that with such a thin crop of defensemen this offseason, his price tag will likely be around 3 million, even coming off an injury. For one year/2-2.5 mill, the reward far outweighs the risk. 

 

Cam Barker

After a couple steady years in Chicago, the 25 year old former 3rd overall pick was dealt to the Wild, where he failed to make an impression and was a regular healthy scratch. However, while in Chicago, he produced points at a decent pace (18, 40, and 14 pts in 45, 68, and 51 games respectively). He is coming off a 3 mill/season cap hit and, like Souray, will be looking to crack the top 6 on some team no matter where he goes.

An opinion; Personally, unless he signs for dirt cheap, I wouldn't waste the money. He seems to be nothing more than a 5/6th defenseman at best, despite that one year where he posted 40 points. Even in Minnesota, Barker was a healthy scratch far too many times for a 3rd overall pick, or has been demoted to the AHL far too often for my tastes. (he's never played more than 68 games, with only one of those coming from an offseason injury). That said, there is a chance, however small, that he recaptures that flame. Regardless, I'd rather give our own kids the chance. 

 

Mike Commodore

Another former Devils, Commodore signed an 18.75 mill/5 year contract  back in 2008, only to have the Jackets eat up three years of it (last year he played in the AHL, with the last two being bought out). From his stats, he never was a prolific point producer, with his career high being only 29 pts back in 06-07. In addition, he's had trouble avoiding injuries, and will only get older (he's 31 now). However, he does possess a decent first pass. 

An opinion; Coming off a year where several players missed a decent amount of time with injuries, I'd rather not spend the money on someone who can't seem to avoid them. Plus, he doesn't have the offensive upside we need. 

 

 

Of the three, Souray makes the most sense to me as long as the price and years stay low. He possesses the skills and experience we need and could serve as a potential transition on the blueline before players like Larsson make the jump. In addition, should Taormina make the team as well, he can act as a mentor to the aspiring offensive defenseman as well. 

Poll
Which player, if any, do you want the Devils to make an offer to, as long as the price remains reasonable?
Sheldon Souray
30 votes
Cam Barker
8 votes
Mike Commodore
2 votes
Anton Babchuk
15 votes
Ian White
13 votes
Re-sign Greene
26 votes
Let the kids fill the spots
29 votes

123 votes | Poll has closed

All FanPosts and FanShots are the respective work of the author and not representative of the writers or other users of In Lou We Trust.

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I wouldn’t mind getting one of Souray, Barker or Babchuk as long as it wasn’t too expensive and it wasn’t for too long a term.

There is nothing quite as satisfying as out running security after you've punched out a Flyers fan!
"I was in the moment, and the moment said smack you." - Bruce Willis

by slackdog_rm on Jun 30, 2011 3:06 PM EDT reply actions  

I think Souray, on a cheap 1-year deal, wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.

by HockeyWeasel on Jun 30, 2011 4:24 PM EDT reply actions  

Maybe, provided he can get it together and play like he’s got a point to make. I’m still wary because he could have been obtained at half of his cap hit last season and nobody in the NHL took a flyer on him. And I wouldn’t consider $2-2.5 million to be cheap – especially if Greene could be retained for that price.

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jun 30, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

If the price tag was $2 million or higher, I’d certainly stay away. But if he could be had for around $1.5 million, I’d take the gamble.

by HockeyWeasel on Jun 30, 2011 7:39 PM EDT up reply actions  

I’ve advocated for Sheldon Souray as long and as loudly as anyone else on this blog. I’ve proposed the idea of trading a problem contract for Souray several times, giving the Devils a potential answer on the back end while ridding the team of a salary albatross…. while giving the Oilers something in return for a guy they want no part of.

I wouldn’t object to Souray as a Devil, but even $1.5 million is too much to give him in my book. If you want to give him a one year deal at $1 million, that’s fine. If you want to load up a contract with some incentives, I can live with that too. At the same time, this team has other needs and limited cap space, so there’s no need to spend a huge amount of coin on what would be a 3rd-pairing defender and perhaps a PP specialist.

by acasser on Jun 30, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions  

If you want to load up a contract with some incentives, I can live with that too.

But the NHL wouldn’t:

50.2 (b)
(2) Performance Bonuses shall be allowable under this
Agreement only for:
(i) Players with Entry Level SPCs under
Article 9 of this Agreement;
(ii) Players aged 35 or older as of June
30 prior to the League Year in which the SPC is to
be effective, who have signed a one-year SPC for
that League Year; and
(iii) Players who are “400-plus game
Players” for pension purposes, and who: (i) in the
last year of their most recent SPC, spent 100 days or
more on the injured reserve list; and (ii) have signed
a one-year SPC for the current or upcoming League
Year.
As to paragraphs ©(2)(ii) and ©(2)(iii), such Players are not
limited in the length of an SPC they may sign, but in the event any
such Player signs an SPC with a term of longer than one (1) year,
the SPC shall not be permitted to contain Performance Bonuses.

Go Devils
Go Jets
Need to lose weight?

by FrankG929 on Jun 30, 2011 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions  

If Ehrhoff turned down a 23mill/5 year deal with Vancouver, there’s no way we could possibly fit him, Parise, and the remaining spots on the team under the cap, so I didn’t include him for that reason.

by skly27 on Jun 30, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions  

I understand he turned down a contract. Who knows if it was 23mil/5yrs.

I do not know if you read Theo Fluery’s book (great read), but he discussed his contract negotiations before being traded from the flames. Fleury asked the Flames for 25mil/5yrs but the Flames maxed their offer at 16mil/4yrs. However, after he got traded to Colorado, the Calgary newspapers stated Fleury turned down his original asking price of 25mil/5yrs. All I trying to say is, who knows what he actually turned down. Just because reports stated that, doesn’t mean it is true.

Do not quote me on the exact numbers of Fleury, read the book a while ago.

Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 2011

by joshd12 on Jun 30, 2011 5:43 PM EDT up reply actions  

I understand he turned down a contract. Who knows if it was 23mil/5yrs.

I’ve read in multiple places that Vancouver offered him a deal “similar” to what Bieksa got, which was the quoted deal. I just used that as a starting point.

In addition, seeing as he just signed in Buffalo for 10 years/40 mill, with 18 million coming in the first two years, I’d say he was after the money, especially seeing as he left a stacked Vancouver team that, choking aside, will compete for a finals spot on a regular basis.

by skly27 on Jun 30, 2011 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions  

The same Erhoff who wasn’t bought out?

Devils in my heart! Devils in my mind! Devils in my eyes! Devils until I die!
In Lou We Trust - The New Jersey Devils SBN Blog

by John Fischer on Jun 30, 2011 5:40 PM EDT up reply actions  

Souray was getting burned in the AHL according to some reports last year. Let me repeat that, the AHL. Why bring him in to take the spot away from a kid. I just do not see logic in that method.

Joshd12
Brock University
BA. Sports Management, 2014
BA. Recreation and Leisure Studies, 2011

by joshd12 on Jun 30, 2011 5:37 PM EDT reply actions  

Who’s to say the kids won’t get burned either? Giving them another year to develop might be in our best interest as well.

I’m not saying we should sign anyone outside of Parise and Hedburg this summer; I’m just putting out the question.

by skly27 on Jun 30, 2011 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions  

People clamoring for Souray is “Wade Redden Syndrome.” They hear a familiar name of a guy who used to be good or decent and just think he’s still the same player or remotely beneficial.

by Zelepukin on Jun 30, 2011 6:48 PM EDT reply actions  

I’m not clamoring for him, and I don’t feel that anyone else is either. My main point is, for the right price, he could be a good piece to the team. He has (or had if you take your logic) a skill set we need on the backend. If Lou offered him a 1 year/2 mill salary, there is relatively little risk. He doesn’t work out? Send him to the minors and bring up a kid. Injured? LTIR. And after this season he’s gone anyway. But if he does regain some spark (which, as mentioned above, he had 53 points on the OILERS only 2 years ago), then such a move would look genius.

It’s low risk/high reward and gives the youngsters another year to develop. The only thing we’d miss out on is signing a different defenseman this year if the player wants too much.

by skly27 on Jun 30, 2011 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions  

Redden

If Redden wasnt bringing in $6.5M/year, he would be an NHL’er, no doubt.

by Skuba7 on Jul 3, 2011 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions  

You do not have to worry about Souray’s age because no one is giving him a multi-year deal. He is getting a one year deal MAX and not much money at all. Would I like to bring him in SURE – I wanted him a few seasons ago, but with little buzz in the NHL for him as front office members of many teams did not like how he played in the AHL COULD the Devils do what they did last year with Adam Mair. Come to camp and fight for a job, it is a win/win – he has ro prove his speed and skill is up to NHL levels and Devils do not throw 2 MIL at a big question mark (Right Now)

I saw Devils may look at Keith Yandel (which I think is not going to happen).

by Team First Devils on Jul 1, 2011 8:38 AM EDT reply actions  

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