Holik coming back, too

Center Bobby Holik is also returning to the Devils after signing a one-year deal for $2.5 million today.

"Familiarity and wanting to play for a team that can be at the top of their conference, wanting to play winning hockey at the end of my career," Holik said in listing the reasons for returning to the Devils. "At this point in my career, I wasn't going to start new somewhere else and when Lou (Lamoriello) called, it was like, 'Why not?' because I'm ready for it."

Holik, 37, won Stanley Cups with the Devils in 1995 and 2000 before signing with the Rangers as an unrestricted free agent in 2002. Holik had 15 goals and 19 assists in 82 games while captaining the Atlanta Thrashers last season, but the Thrashers expressed no interest in re-signing him.

Holik said he "didn't play the market at all because we had a few teams in mind."

"It's all about hockey for me now," he said. "I want to finish my career having fun and playing good hockey, playing on a good team with good team players for a good organization and New Jersey provided that all."

Comments

[LOU IS GOD]

Between Zajac, Zubrus, Holik, Clarkson, and Rupp there has to be some sort of way to get the reincarnation of the crash line going again

[aaron]

this has got to be partly because of brodeur and holiks friendship, no?

[LuziferDevs]

i don't know about this signing

it might be a bit much, how much cap room do we have left?

[MAS]

What a crazy day. I wish Rolston's deal wasn't for so long, but am excited at the prospect of his return, in general. Will be interesting to see if we stick him at center or wing.

[Kelly]

08 Crash Line here we come...

Talk about bringing back some good memories.

[jdr30]

Zubrus-Holik-Clarkson

[Devilswede]

I don't understand how Holik got $2.5 million from the Devils! He's worth $1 million tops!....

[Kelly]

TG...

You need a raise!

[Jill]

wow I wasn't sure how I'd feel if he were to return but it's pretty cool.

[Ryan G]

i smell a trade coming.

[pando20rules]

Absolutely GREAT signing, between Holik and Rolston, this team helped itself a lot, as long as they don't count on more then a 4th line/faceoff guy/2nd pp unit type role for Holik. Insert him in rupp's place on my previou post and a potential "fourth" line of zubrus/holik/clarkson will have some ability although they may be a hair slow, and have to be held out against teams like Montreal, but should be effective against most teams I would think

[Justin]

lou talked about the brylin situation and seperating his heart and head. hope he did that with holik because im not so sure holik is worth 2.5 anymore

[NJSwampdragon]

it will be good to see the Devs get some goals from the fourth line instead of watching Zubrus keep the puck in the zone for a minute only for nothing to come from it. Holik should also be a decent mentor for Clarkson. Crash the net boys, and create those chances. We can finally roll four lines with this line-up.

[Madden4C]

We have about 4mil left, right?

[Brodie30]

Holik will help on faceoffs, which is key on the powerplay and at the end of games. Again a little much, but the Devils are a much better team today. I wonder if there isn't going to be a trade for defense now. Hopefully not Gio, I think he'll recover.

[Pat D]

Thanks TG for having all of this info before anyone else. Also, I can't wait for this season to start and correct me if I'm wrong but I would speculate a trade coming up since we have a surplus of forwards now.

[modnarm]

GIONTA FOR OHLUND! or.. CAP SPACE TO SIGN REDDEN!!!
or SMITH!

how tight would it be to get 3 ex-Devils back. wow. or even if we got Shanny.. that would be 4!!!

[pando20rules]

Absolutely GREAT signing, between Holik and Rolston, this team helped itself a lot, as long as they don't count on more then a 4th line/faceoff guy/2nd pp unit type role for Holik. Insert him in rupp's place on my previou post and a potential "fourth" line of zubrus/holik/clarkson will have some ability although they may be a hair slow, and have to be held out against teams like Montreal, but should be effective against most teams I would think

[Shari]

Should be an interesting season, The Rags Fans are going to boo the crap out of Holik and with any luck He will be fueled by this and kick some butt, Lou has to be done now right? money is tight now cap wise so if He keeps signing Players who will be going?

[MikeDeadworks]

YES YES YES YES YES YES YES YES

my all time fav devil

[pando20rules]

Absolutely GREAT signing, between Holik and Rolston, this team helped itself a lot, as long as they don't count on more then a 4th line/faceoff guy/2nd pp unit type role for Holik. Insert him in rupp's place on my previou post and a potential "fourth" line of zubrus/holik/clarkson will have some ability although they may be a hair slow, and have to be held out against teams like Montreal, but should be effective against most teams I would think

[NJSwampdragon]

Now lets trade, buyout, or send Vish to the minors and get a puck-moving d-man to work with Rolston at the point.

[modnarm]

I still would like to have Morrison center Elias and Rolston.

BUT.. if he can't. why not get Vrana in the mix!?

Elias-Vrana-Rolston/Gionta
Parise-Zajac-Rolston/Gionta
Pandolfo-Madden-Langenbrunner
Zubrus-Holik-Clarkson

so we have a Devils-esque offense .. we still are a boarderline AHL defense.

[James]

this is a horrible deal. we should of used the $$ on a defensemen and let the best rookie out of camp make it.

[Matt M.]

I like this one-year deal. Holik is terrific on face offs, and he will chip in to the secondary scoring.