Confirmed with Link: Sami Vatanen signs with Devils 1yr 2m

[njdevils1982]

Colin White was one of the worst skaters we’ve ever seen, yet somehow he played like 12 years in the NHL.

He couldn’t do shit with the puck and would regularly lose his man, but convinced everyone he was such a good defensive player because he blocked shots, got glued in his D-zone all night and never scored any points.

 

[My3Sons]

My fear is that Sami will be higher than a 3rd pair/power play specialist. If that is the case, the defense corps isn't much better than a year ago.

And in that situation, would rather see those minutes going to players whose careers are progressing.

While I totally agree conceptually, I'm not sure that any of the young defenders are sure things at this point. Moreso on the right side where Vats would play. If NJ wants Smith on the left, Vats isn't really blocking him so much as Walsh. As I noted, I hope that a number of the young defenders get some games at the NHL level but it's hard to say that any can take a regular shift game after game on even a third pair. Vats is injury prone and so is Murray so it might be spotty all season long on the blue line anyway. At least Carrick and Vats are only one year deals so the team won't be bogged down long term. I expect Vats to be moved at the TDL. I do hope Murray shows well enough that the team can extend him for a couple of years while the young guys work their way up the lineup.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

My fear is that Sami will be higher than a 3rd pair/power play specialist. If that is the case, the defense corps isn't much better than a year ago.

And in that situation, would rather see those minutes going to players whose careers are progressing.

Unless I am forgetting someone Vats would be taking time from Carrick and Jacobs. I doubt they have any intention of playing Walsh anywhere but Bingo to start the season. Signing Vats is probably telling us what they think of Jacobs.

 

[MadDevil]

If anything I think Vats might actually help Smith. If they're going to pair a veteran RD with him, I'd rather it be either Subban or Vats over Severson or Carrick. And Subban is probably going to be getting tougher minutes, so I'm not sure we want Smith in those situations yet.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Unless I am forgetting someone Vats would be taking time from Carrick and Jacobs. I doubt they have any intention of playing Walsh anywhere but Bingo to start the season. Signing Vats is probably telling us what they think of Jacobs.

Unless they changed numbers, Jacobs was playing on the wing in the latest scrimmage.

 

[JimEIV]

This warms my heart

 

[Brooklyndevil]

We won two cups with Colin White. Granted his type of defenseman has come on gone. However, in his hey day he was valuable to the team. Dano wasn’t a speedster either, but he was darn good at what he did. Play defense, take the body and block shots.

 

[NJDevs26]

White was an ideal pre-lockout defenseman. Post-lockout and eye injury, not so much, but he was also playing above where he should have been late-career a la Andy Greene the last couple of seasons.

 

[tr83]

Nothing wrong with having actual competition for places, at least we have a bit of depth given that a number of them can't be relied on to stay healthy.

Murray - Severson
Smith - Subban
Kulikov - Vatanen
Butcher - Carrick
Tennyson

Tennyson should never sniff the NHL

 

[tr83]

Dont we have to worry about exposing guys to an expansion draft?

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Unless they changed numbers, Jacobs was playing on the wing in the latest scrimmage.

If so it makes my point - Vats is blocking no one.

 

[Darkauron]

If so it makes my point - Vats is blocking no one.

They only did that temp for this game to have full forward lines.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Dont we have to worry about exposing guys to an expansion draft?

At this point we have to expose one of Butcher or Subban to meet the requirement. The only other player at this point that meets the requirement is Sevs but there is no way the Devils expose him.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

They only did that temp for this game to have full forward lines.

Thanks.

 

[glenwo2]

Colin White was one of the worst skaters we’ve ever seen, yet somehow he played like 12 years in the NHL.

He couldn’t do shit with the puck and would regularly lose his man, but convinced everyone he was such a good defensive player because he blocked shots, got glued in his D-zone all night and never scored any points.

Colin should've been a goaltender then.

 

[HBK27]

At this point we have to expose one of Butcher or Subban to meet the requirement. The only other player at this point that meets the requirement is Sevs but there is no way the Devils expose him.

They could also just extend Kulikov or Carrick another year to expose them, though I'd rather see them expose Subban and dare Seattle to take him.

 

[tailfins]

They could also just extend Kulikov or Carrick another year to expose them, though I'd rather see them expose Subban and dare Seattle to take him.

Why? We don’t care about Subban’s cap hit. We’re not using that space anyway. You don’t think he’s better than Butcher?

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

They could also just extend Kulikov or Carrick another year to expose them, though I'd rather see them expose Subban and dare Seattle to take him.

Carrick would have to play the equivalent of 40 games this year. It was 70 over 2 seasons and he appeared in 29 last year so it would be the equivalent of 41 to meet the 2nd requirement..

 

[Bleedred]

Carrick sucks.

He’s better than Peter Harrold.

Would you take that as a compliment?

 

[HBK27]

Why? We don’t care about Subban’s cap hit. We’re not using that space anyway. You don’t think he’s better than Butcher?

Subban is probably better, though Butcher being 5 years younger aligns better with NJ's window. I wasn't thinking that Butcher would also be a year away from UFA, so depending on how this next season goes I can see the argument for protecting Subban over Butcher - of course, that would all be dependent on whether or not Fitzgerald can acquire a young defenseman from another team that would otherwise lose the player to Seattle in the expansion draft. Otherwise, Severson, Subban and Butcher are the only logical choices to protect unless Murray is extended.

 

[Better Call Sal]

I won't stand for any Colin White slander.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Why? We don’t care about Subban’s cap hit. We’re not using that space anyway. You don’t think he’s better than Butcher?

One thing about the Subban cap hit, if your remember Cordell had reported that the Devils had a $75 mil internal cap. If so it is possible they could have or in the future have to pass on something due to his cap hit. I have no info and I know some posters do not like Cordell, but any player taking up 11% of cap is something an organization cares about.

IMO it is not all that important if the Devils protect Subban or Butcher. I doubt Seattle takes either and I believe 21-22 will be the last for both as Devils.

 

[tailfins]

One thing about the Subban cap hit, if your remember Cordell had reported that the Devils had a $75 mil internal cap. If so it is possible they could have or in the future have to pass on something due to his cap hit. I have no info and I know some posters do not like Cordell, but any player taking up 11% of cap is something an organization cares about.

IMO it is not all that important if the Devils protect Subban or Butcher. I doubt Seattle takes either and I believe 21-22 will be the last for both as Devils.

I'd think the Devils internal "cap" is on cash, not AAV. He's owed $8 million next year, with $6 million of that as a signing bonus.

For 2021, the last Stanley Cup final game could be played on July 9. Signing bonuses are due July 1. They were actually paid out on July 1, 2020 despite the 2019-2020 season not yet being complete.

If the signing bonus payout remains July 1, Subban will only be due $2 million in additional compensation for the 2021-2022 season. I think Subban will be worth $2 million to the Devils.

 

[tailfins]

I'd think the Devils internal "cap" is on cash, not AAV. He's owed $8 million next year, with $6 million of that as a signing bonus.

For 2021, the last Stanley Cup final game could be played on July 9. Signing bonuses are due July 1. They were actually paid out on July 1, 2020 despite the 2019-2020 season not yet being complete.

If the signing bonus payout remains July 1, Subban will only be due $2 million in additional compensation for the 2021-2022 season. I think Subban will be worth $2 million to the Devils.

ETA: Butcher, meanwhile, is due $4.1 million next year, all of which is salary. The Devils would save more than double if Seattle took him.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

I'd think the Devils internal "cap" is on cash, not AAV. He's owed $8 million next year, with $6 million of that as a signing bonus.

For 2021, the last Stanley Cup final game could be played on July 9. Signing bonuses are due July 1. They were actually paid out on July 1, 2020 despite the 2019-2020 season not yet being complete.

If the signing bonus payout remains July 1, Subban will only be due $2 million in additional compensation for the 2021-2022 season. I think Subban will be worth $2 million to the Devils.

Sharp point. I had not thought about the dates for the signing bonus.. That is still a lot of money going out for a player that played below replacement level last season while the team is losing money.