Hey now. With July 1st officially in the rearview mirror, outside of the occasional news update, trade or signing, The NHL Offseason is about to become VERY quiet.
That being said, Devils’ GM Tom Fitzgerald met with the media on Tuesday morning to discuss his team’s moves when the market opened, his analysis of how multiple players performed last year and many other topics.
Here are the highlights…
On Jake Allen re-signing for five years at an AAV of $1.8M ($9M total package).
Fitzgerald: “It’s exciting to have Jake back and his family back in New Jersey, where they wanted to be and where we wanted them. I give Jake and Shannon a lot of credit for helping us through this process, cap-wise. But it just shows you that we’re building something here where people want to stay…Two years ago, at the deadline, I called him up before we traded for him to convince him to come here…He reminded me of that conversation yesterday.”
On the additions of Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov.
Fitzgerald: “Connor Brown is a guy who can move around your lineup. He gives you speed, fantastic penalty killer, he’s a guy who Sheldon (Keefe) will use at the end of games. Kind of like a Swiss jackknife…Dadonov, same thing. We were kind of trying to fit pieces into the puzzle. It just made so much sense on a performance-based contract where he could fit in and earn some more money. So, again, another guy who gives us flexibility, versatility throughout the line.”
On the rehab progress being made by Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes and other injured Devils.
Fitzgerald: “They’re all progressing great. Everything I’ve been told is they’ll be ready for the start of the season…(However, while) Johnathan Kovacevic is healing well, but he will not be ready for the start of the regular season.”
On the status of contract negotiations with RFA Luke Hughes.
Fitzgerald: “My No. 1 priority is Luke Hughes and what I do with Luke Hughes will determine what else I possibly could do…He wants to be a Devil, long term, like his brother did. He wants to be part of something we’re creating, but the standards are getting higher every year; that’s exciting. With Luke, I don’t sense anything other than he wants to be a New Jersey Devil for a long time…I talked to his agent yesterday, we said, ‘let’s enjoy your holiday weekend and start talking next week.’”
On his expectations for Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey.
Fitzgerald: “Nemec, last year, got off to a slow start. He was injured at the Olympic qualifiers before Labor Day. He probably would say he wasn’t in the best shape because of the injury and continued to do what he needed to do to come into a really hard training camp, the hardest he’s ever had. He knows what to expect. We loved where he ended, where his game was and he looked like the player who we drafted, who we thought we were drafting. So, really excited about his growth.
“Seamus is the same thing. He’s still a young player in this league and understanding that, you look at the experience Nemec has the last three years, Seamus will get that experience. Again, it’s always nice to have depth, especially right-shot defensemen.”
On the long-term plan for Nico Daws.
Fitzgerald: “You see how often goalies are going down. Having depth in the net is crucial. Nico’s a guy, he played what, five, six games last year? Definitely played too early in his career, but out of necessity. We really like Nico, but we feel like having this depth makes us a better team.”
On The NHL’s decentralized draft.
Fitzgerald: “I voted to have a decentralized draft. I’m definitely open to going back. I guess the reason I voted that way was travel. You gotta remember, I don’t know when this started, but The Stanley Cup’s being handed out later and later it seems every year. And the draft falls shortly thereafter and then July 1st. The draft used to be the third week of June and then you had a week to prepare.
“The travel back from Vegas or LA at the time, it really hurt us back here. Like, you’re getting in, taking red eyes back, whatever. So, I just looked out for how our experience was with it. And I said, ‘I’d rather just wake up in my own bed.’ The other part, too, I found, was communication with teams. When you’re out east and you’re trying to get a hold of a team out west, usually you have to wait until working hours or not calling at nine o’clock my time, six o’clock out west and you waited. I enjoyed being on the same time zone and being able to just pick the phone up. But that’s me being nitpicky. I’m open to anything.”
On the new CBA mandating neck guards for all new players entering The League.
Fitzgerald: “I think it’s great. To me, it’s no different than the helmet. It’s no different than the half shield. I just think kids, they won’t even realize they’re wearing it. Just like the helmet and the shield for players in the past. I think it’s a great, great start for The League and anytime you can continue to look after your players, especially young players now as they grow into The League and help them stay protected. But, more importantly, educate them on the different types of things that are out there that can help them.”
