Devils headed for free agency

As many of you try to recover from Tuesday night's game, it's time to start looking forward. Don't worry. I will continue to go through the aftermath from the Game 7 collapse against Carolina and hope to have comments from Devils president,CEO and general manager Lou Lamoriello later today.

The team hasn't announced yet when it will hold its breakup day (and postseason team photo). All I know is it won't be today.

The process of getting ready for next season has already begun, though. So, let's start with the free agency picture. Here are the Devils' players who are scheduled to become free agents if they don't re-sign before July 1.

With restricted free agents, the team has the right to match any offer the player receives or would receive compensation (draft picks) for that player leaving to sign with another team.

The team has no right to match or to compensation for unrestricted free agents.

Everyone else not on this list is under contract for at least the 2009-10 season.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (player's 2008-09 cap salary in parenthesis)

RW Brian Gionta ($4 million); C John Madden ($2,938,540); C Bobby Holik ($2.5 million); LW/RW Brendan Shanahan ($800,000);  LW Mike Rupp ($500,000); D Niclas Havelid ($2.7 million); D Johnny Oduya ($600,000); G Kevin Weekes ($687,500); G Scott Clemmensen ($500,000). RW Barry Tallackson ($475,000) -- Group 6 UFA.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS

C Travis Zajac ($984,200); LW Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond ($471,667); D Andy Greene ($600,000), C Petr Vrana ($475,000).

***

Someone asked for Brendan Shanahan's reaction to Tuesday's game. Shanahan was one of a handful of players I did not see in the postgame locker room. I also didn't see Travis Zajac.

Zach Parise was the most-visibly distraught player in the room, but all of them looked stunned. Jay Pandolfo and John Madden were also notable for the look of shock and disappointment on their faces.

Comments

[Mason R.]

Still can't believe that happened. Can't believe we have to wait almost 6 months for next year- this sucks so hard...

[Armen]

I am still physically ill from last night. Tell Zach to hang in there and thanks for all of excellent work during the season TG.

[Jeremy]

Gionta and Madden making 4 and 3 million a year is a bit much. Curious to see if Lou hangs on to both.

[Stunned and Disgusted Devils Fan]

TG, we are anxiously awaiting Lou's reaction and what he plans to do to make this team better.
There is no excuse to what happened last night and at the end of Games 2 and 4, getting pinned in our zone for such extensive time.

The loss was awful to the franchise in selling season tickets for next season, at least getting to Round-2 would have helped since momemtum was building with 4 sellout crowds this series. Last night we had a great crowd I thought.

[pando20rules]

i agree Stunned...the crowd was great until the game ended when they felt the need to fill the ice with bottles and towels

definitely hurts the momentum of ticket sales though, that's for sure.

Stunned and Disgusted sums it up best too for probably how everyone is feeling today.

[mpf]

Sign Madden for 2.5, Gio for 3, Oduya for 1 or so.
Ship out Zubrus and Salvador.
Sign a center and a REAL Dman.
Call up Halischuk.

Please, please please, let Holik walk away.

[Jeff M]

I think Madden and Gio played great the whole series....they showed a lot of heart and are the leaders that this team needs going forward. Madden may be a defensive specialist, but he has grit and heart and I respect that. Gio skated well and I felt was one of our best offensive players during the series.

As for the other unrestricted FA's, let all of them go. Oduya is a good player, but if we can upgrade on D, we need to do it.

[Scratch28]

TG,
Will you have access to the players again in the near future? to get more reactions and quotes from them?

[BF from Australia]

Semi Off-topic TG, Would you be able to find out if any of the Devils are going to to Switzerland playing in the IIHF World Championship?

[jdr30]

RW Brian Gionta = RESIGN 1yr
C John Madden = TOO OLD/SLOW GOODBYE
C Bobby Holik = GOODBYE
LW/RW Brendan Shanahan = RESIGN 1 YEAR
LW Mike Rupp = GOODBYE
D Niclas Havelid = GOOD RIDDANCE!
D Johnny Oduya = RESIGN
G Kevin Weekes = GOODBYE
G Scott Clemmensen = RESIGN
RW Barry Tallackson = RESIGN

[BF]

I thought PL3 was signed for longer.

[Damian]

Madden has just become too much of a predictable player, I lost count on how many times he had a 2 on 1 in the 3rd period and did absolutely nothing with them, coming down the right wing with that slapshop right into the crest got old a while back...

[Mason R.]

What are the chances we pick up Cammalleri as a star center? I know it's far-fetched but is it possible? What about Marty Havlat, a good friend of Patty's... I'd like to see us make a run at a defenseman too. Will the devils have enough space for a player like Havlat or Cammalleri?

[dannyd]

Repost from last blog...
I said something along these lines last night, and others have said similar things today, but I'll repeat since I'm bored. There need to be some serious changes this offseason. If for no other reason than to finally mix things up in that room...they have been given their chances, and came up short.
That being said, I don't think the offense is the real problem. In terms of who should stay or go, I say goodbye to Madden, Holik, Shanahan, and Rupp. Bring back Gio. He played great this series and at least he always shows up with an effort. Also, TG what are the guidelines on buying out contracts. The thought of Pando making $2.5 million the next two years is sickening.
Now on to the real problem with this team. The defense. The only defensemen we currently have who I want to see playing for this team next year are Martin, Oduya, Salvador, and Greene. Colin White has three more years at $3 million (that's not a typo). Lou should seriosly consider buying him out with Pando. Havlid is a goner, that's a no brainer. And NO FREAKIN` WAY Mottau (who has one year left on his contract) should be anything more than a #7, occasional fill-in dman. Considering Mottau was playing over 20 min. a night no one should be surprised we are on the outside looking in right now.
So, finally, I say this offseason the #1 priority should DEFINATELY be a #1 dman (Bowmester would be sweet). Then, if we have the money left over, get a LEGIT top 2 center to go with Elias and Rolston/Gio. You know, like someone who has done well playing center for their entire career, not 20 games of it, Lou. After that, fill out the rest of the roster with young, fast, HUNGRY players like every other successful franchise has been doing. Times have changed, Lou, get over it.

I can't believe you would give Madden $2.5 million, mpf. You must be crazy. Why? If you ask me he isn't worth $1.5 million, anymore. Frankly, I don't want him back at all. And if we could somehow get rid of Pando and the $5 million we owe him over the next 2 years I would be thrilled. TG, what are the specifics on buying out contracts?

[TG]

I will have access to the players again on break-up day -- whenever that is.

I also plan to find out if any of the players will go to the World Championships.

[Matt]

this guys look says it all...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/photo;_ylt=AmRwK6jK02uieB80Yt9yu5l7vLYF?slug=9e2de14ae6f847809fcce4ee518978be.hurricanes_devils_hockey_njbk118&prov=ap

[frankied]

Madden is great and all but we need to go in another direction. We really do. The whole idea of the "checking line" is all wrong in the post-lockout era. You need all your lines to be able to score. Yes, I know Pando scored last night, but that was an anomaly. None of our lines could sustain pressure other than the Parise line. I hope Lou realizes this but I am skeptical. He resigned Pando to a 3-year deal last year and that tells me he will do the same for Madden.

[Matt]

JDR 30 couldn't agree with those signs more. Zajac is a RFA too whom needs to be signed

[HF]

right on target dannyd. days of matching pando-madden must be over!!

[dannyd]

If that happens frankied, then Lou really has lost it. Considering the contracts he has handed out lately, though, it wouldn't be a shock. At least he's not Glenn Sather.

[mpf]

People that don't understand John Madden's place on this team are slaves to Gary Bettman hockey, sorry dannyd. He's got a couple years left in the tank. When we lose games people crap all over him but he's our best penalty killer and we can use him in any situation. A lot of teams would love to have him and I think we're lucky to have him. He had a decent season and people keep forgetting that he was our most important player right after Marty last season. He carried the team and had an awesome year. Even though I like Sutter, I attribute some of this teams problems to Sutter not understanding how to use certain guys (Madden, Pandolfo, Rolston). All of these guys are quality players and there's a reason they haven't been very impressive lately.
I think he's worth 2.5, and no, I didn't ask you. How do you expect to replace these players? You suggest buying out the entire team... have you not noticed that there will be NOBODY coming up in free agency that will improve this team? Not to mention our prospects are extremely limited?

This team seriously needs to build from within, but we don't have any of the pieces. We can't rely on this years draft or free agency. With some of the bad contracts Lou has given out (Zubrus, Sal), it's going to be extremely difficult to change this team very much. Should be an interesting summer.

[HF]

7 goals is good enough for you mpf?

[HF]

pando making 2.5 is sickening....

[RickyM2]

They should rename the building... The Shock..

[dannyd]

@mpf, I didn't mean to sound rude, sorry if I did. I just don't see how you can think Madden should be brought back. Especially for $2.5 million. Yes he had a good year 2 years ago, but that was 2 years ago. He has only gotten older, slower, and IMO less effective. This is a what have you done for me lately business. And while Madden is good on the PK so are a handful of other guys on the team. Rolston before coming here was always used on the PK and was a solid shorthanded threat. Here, he gets no time on the PK because of guys like Pando and Madden. It's retarded.