Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said today that the team made qualifying offers to all of its potential restricted free agents before today's 5 p.m. league deadline except minor league goaltender Jordan Parise.
Parise, the older brother of Devils left wing Zach Parise, underwent season-ending hip surgery this winter. He will now become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, but Lamoriello said, 'This doesn't necessarily mean he won't be back."
Among those receiving qualifying offers were right wing David Clarkson, center Rod Pelley, defenseman Olli Malmivaara and minor league centers Petr Vrana and Ivan Khomutov. Lamoriello said the team qualified Malmivaara to maintain his NHL rights, though he has already signed to play in Finland next season.
**Also, I asked Lamoriello about 2007 draft pick Matt Halischuk today and he said that Halischuk would not be eligible to play in Lowell in 2008-09, though he did turn 20 earlier this month. He didn't have time to explain the exact reasons why, but said that Halischuk would still have to go back to junior for another year-- unless he makes the NHL team. If I get the exact explanation from Lamoriello at a later date, I will pass it along. The Devils have yet to sign Halischuk to an entry-level deal.
Let's hope Matt forces his way onto the Devils with a ridiculous training camp scoring 20 goals and playing terrific defense. I can dream, right?
Posted by: frankied | June 25, 2008 at 06:04 PM
I can't see him being worse than Pelley.
Posted by: Jim | June 25, 2008 at 07:00 PM
^ lol
Posted by: Xander Crews | June 25, 2008 at 10:15 PM
so true jim
and i love halischuk more lol
i met him
Posted by: LuziferDevs | June 25, 2008 at 11:45 PM
I can't wait to see Halischuk on the big club...
He's a solid skater and playmaker. He was impressive at the World Juniors and this past season for Kitchener..
I hope Halischuk, snetsinger, corrente, vrana, and bergfors all show up to camp motivated and impress thus making it really hard for them to not make the team. We need some speed and enegy injected into this lineup. Not to mention more creativity in the offensive zone.
Posted by: Brodeur30 | June 26, 2008 at 01:15 AM
I think Pelley and Halischuk will be good assets down the road for the devils, maybe the future madden-pandolfo tandem in 4 to 5 yrs
Posted by: jim b | June 26, 2008 at 02:10 AM
I agree about Halischuk compared to Pelley, I'd rather have seen Bergfors or Vrana get a shot. Pelley does not seem to possess much offensive capability.
Then again, that seemed to be the theme for last years team.
Hopefully this is a new year. :)
Posted by: topshlf | June 26, 2008 at 03:31 AM
Halischuk isn't huge, but is a solid two way player. They should give him a shot this year to make the club. Because whatever they had going last year, didn't seem to work....at all.
Posted by: Falcone | June 26, 2008 at 08:22 AM
I really thought Lou should have tried harder to get Jokinen, however, after reading how he lacked desire and leadership, it appears Lou would not want a player like this on his team.
http://www.miamiherald.com/623/story/583575.html
Posted by: bobo | June 26, 2008 at 08:24 AM
Pelley is sound defensively and has good speed, that's why he was given such a long look and playing with Rupp & Asham all those games didn't help him show he could score (not that he's an offensive player anyway). Bergfors made the team out of camp but got hurt in his first game and never really recovered from the injury until the end of the season (injured his other shoulder in Lowell also) and Vrana wasn't even on the radar before last season. Vrana first has to show that last year wasn't a fluke and maybe he tops out at a 10-15 goal scoring 3rd/4th liner in the NHL if he's lucky. Corrente & Bergfors have the best shots to make the team but Corrente will have to be superb to make it out of camp. Probably will play at least the first half of the season in Lowell. Let's just hope Lou makes some moves to sure up the defense and there isn't the need for him to make the team so he doesn't have to be forced into the NHL B4 he's entirely ready.
Posted by: JJ | June 26, 2008 at 08:27 AM
I don't think Jokinen lacked desire, he just played on a horrible team for so long. Also, I think his play was affected at the end of the year when he almost killed Zednick with his skate blade, which is certainly understandable. I would have still have liked to have seen him on the Devils.
Posted by: NJSwampdragon | June 26, 2008 at 08:35 AM
What you need to know about Jokinen is that in his 10 year (roughly) he's NEVER played in a playoff game.
Posted by: Marcos | June 26, 2008 at 08:36 AM
With what other players Marcos? He's had minimal to work with down there, not to mention two coaches w. questionable records of success and hard-driving styles in Keenan and Martin.
Seems like the Herald is just throwing a little dirt on the grave now that he's gone.
We should have made a play for him.
Posted by: Gunther | June 26, 2008 at 08:53 AM
Some of you are comparing Halischuk to Pelley, but the player I've read he's more similar to is Clarkson.
And enough on Jokinen already. He's on the verge of becoming the player who has played the most regular season games without ever playing in a playoff game.
You can only blame that on the rest of his team for so long.
He didn't get along with Jacques Martin, but Keenan liked him a lot and Jokinen probably had his best years playing for him. Still, they never reached the playoffs.
Plus, with the style the Devils play - which is the same style Martin likes - I'm not sure he would have liked it in NJ.
Posted by: TG | June 26, 2008 at 09:21 AM
Re: Halischuk - Victor Fernandes @ The Erie Times-News (He's the Otters beat writer and a great guy, even though he is a Rangers fan) said that Halischuk should be eligible to play in the AHL, but it might be that Lou doesn’t think Halischuk will be ready because Hali only played 40 games last season and missed several with an injury. If Lou sends him back to Kitchener, he’ll be an overager, and he won’t be able to play in the AHL at all, until his season ends.
Posted by: jules | June 26, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Khomotuv will replace Brylin
Posted by: Mike from Elmwood Park | June 26, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Yeah halischuk plays like clarkson but better offensively. and doesnt take penalties. o and he keeps his stick on the ice!
Posted by: LuziferDevs | June 26, 2008 at 11:26 AM
How many games playoff games did Loungo play in before being traded to Vancouver? 0. Blaming one player for that is ridiculous. At least blame the goalie that played with him for 6 of those years, as a goalie has more to say in wins and losses than any centerman.
Posted by: NJSwampdragon | June 26, 2008 at 11:35 AM
Khumotov shouldn't even be allowed back in Lowell yet alone the Rock.
Posted by: Ralph | June 26, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I am getting this bad feeling that Lou will target Markus Naslund as his "headline" signing.
Posted by: segundo | June 26, 2008 at 12:19 PM
I just don't think Jokinen is a winning player. Is he talented, absolutely.
Posted by: Marcos | June 26, 2008 at 12:20 PM
and like signing Naslund would be a bad thing ?
Posted by: Jersey Mike | June 26, 2008 at 12:50 PM
Isn't Naslund a LW? I think Lou should be looking for a center
Posted by: frankied | June 26, 2008 at 01:16 PM
I know he's a LW but I just see him adding a relatively low cost (low reward) veteran on the downside of his career.
I personally want Jagr over everyone else. He's still a dynamic player.
Posted by: segundo | June 26, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Bottom line with Jokinen and him not playing a playoff game, i think that both Jokinen and the teams he played for are both to blame for him not playing a playoff game. He played for the Islanders(yuck!) the Kings(double yuck) and now florida. he has the potential to be one of the better centers in the NHL. but that said its water under the bridge as he is in phoenix now for better or worse. i just hope lou finds some one to play the 1st line C role
Posted by: Pearl Jammed(RJ Arditti) | June 26, 2008 at 02:02 PM