Lamoriello gets to work at draft

In addition to selecting prospects to restock the organizational coffers for the future, the NHL Entry Draft is also a time when league general managers talk with agents about re-signing free agents.

The free agent market opens at noon on Wednesday and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello took avantage of his time in Montreal to touch base with the agents of almost all of the team's potential free agents.

"We nearly talked to everybody, but didn't get through to everyone with the way it is [the busy schedule]," Lamoriello said. "But we'll do it in the next couple of days."

Lamoriello said the Devils will make qualifying offers to restricted free agents Travis Zajac and Andy Greene before the 5 p.m. deadline on Monday, but had not yet done so. If the Devils didn't make the qualifying offers, both would become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

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Lamoriello was pleased overall with what the team was able to accomplish at the draft. After trading up three spots to take Swedish center Jacob Josefson with the 20th pick in the first round on Friday, the Devils seemed intent in Rounds 2-7 on Saturday with getting bigger, particularly on the blue line.

Four of the six players the Devils selected today were defensemen an none of them were shorter than 6-foot-3.

Second-rounder Eric Gelinas grew two inches in the last year to reach 6-4 and weighs 185. Third-round pick Alexander Urbom is 6-3, 196, fourth-rounder Seth Helgeson is 6-5, 220 and seventh-rounder Curtis Gedig is 6-3, 190.

"We were fortunate that they available and they have size and strength, but also mobility," Lamoriello said. "We feel pretty good about today. It was a very, very productive day. We added depth at the blue line and also the three forwards that we got they all bring different dimensions."

Lamoriello said adding size on the blue line was one of the team's goals for the draft.

"And they're tough," Lamoriello said. "We just felt that there's nothing like having that strength when you can get it."

The three forwards the Devils drafted this weekend were Josefson (6-0, 187), fifth-round pick Derek Rodwell (6-1, 190) and sixth-round pick Ashton Bernard (6-4, 197), an enforcer with 320 minutes in penalties over the last two seasons. Josefson is a center. Rodwell, who is headed to North Dakota, and Bernard are both left wings.

Of Urbom, who was teammates with Josefson on Djurgarden in the Swedish Elite League, Lamoriello said, "With (Swedish scout) Danny (Labraatan), he was very high on the list. It was interesting where he was at. You never know why players slip for different reasons, but we couldn't pass up on him where he was at."

Of Gelinas: "He's very mobile, skates very well, very athletic."

Comments

[big bird]

tom, your coverage of the devils is unsurpassed. thank you so much for all the info you provide!

[DevilsCapsGal]

TG:

So much information and you weren't even in Montreal! Thanks so much for all you do.

[pando20rules]

agree 100% big bird

thanks TG!

[Zorin]

I like when Verses had the GM Sutter in the booth. What a tool. He's got the same personality as Coach Sutter. Two peas in a pod, lol.

[RickyM2]

He's not a tool as long as he has the rights to JBo.

I also think they gave respect to Lou by giving him that 1st rd swap for a 3rd pick. (BTW, they didnt have a 2nd round pick)

This draft turned things around for Lou's image in his fans eyes.

[DrivinMeNutz29]

What happened to drafting some goalies?? Brody's no spring chicken and we have one goalie with some promise in lowell.

[RickyM2]

The object is not to "get a goalie" but to get the right one. If we were short handed, we always have the option to snag some goalie already playing. Plus, we have a few years left in Clemmers tank. Even though his puck handling is hysterrically funny at times, its not that big a deal. Weekes is 1000 times better at puck handling than Osgood. Fleury aint all that great at it either at it.

SO TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS TO QUIT CRYING!! There isnt gunna be another Marty for a looooooooong time in the NHL, let alone on the Devils roster.

[RickyM2]

(cont.) So, if it's another Marty you want, FORGEDDABOUDIT........ Don't ask Lou, ask God. However, it would be nice to do it all over again.

[TG]

This was not a good draft year for goaltenders. The Islanders have people scratching their heads because they drafted two today.

[YEAHw/e]

trade bait maybe TG...or even insurance for DP (which stand for dont play now)

[RickyM2]

Well, the Islanders certainly didnt need to draft any fwds, thats for sure (lol)..
DP also stands for "Dinero Pit"

[momo from Brooklyn]

TG, what are your thoughts on Devils pick this year? In the few blogs early you mentioned that Devils should pick Palmieri or maybe I misunderstood? Thank you.

[RickyM2]

I'd love to have Clemmer behind Marty this year. But if he gets a good offer, I hope he takes it. He suffered long enough. If he signs with another team, I will most certainly be watching his games as often as possible on CenterIce. I can't explain why, but I just really enjoyed watching him. Maybe because of the way we expected the worst results out of him, and ended up getting the best results. Thats something I look at as inspiring. He never gave up. He played 70 mins in a 60 min game. Meaning, in the last minute of play, he was just as determined as the first minute

[RickyM2]

**whic by the way,payed off in the PITT ame tha e went to OT at home. With one second left Malkin came up, and made a perfect pass in front that sent Clemmer diving to bring it in to OT. Then Langy sent us home with a smile

[LordPomperoid]

Doesn't it go without saying that the Icelanders have other teams "scratching their heads". I wonder if they regret the Parise draft?

[RickyM2]

Lord.. Dont question the genious of Sir Wang!! He knew all along that drafting Parise in 03 would ruin his chances later to draft Tavares (then aged 13) in 09... See how it all works out? It was all part of his Master Plan all along!!

[Jason]

Not sure why the isles took two goalies. They were on their sixth string in Bridgeport and were still winning games.

[RickyM2]

Isles might be the only team in teh NHL with more depth in goalies than centers

[Zorin]

Yah, they have plenty of depth in nets. Meanwhile, they need drop some depth charges on the Coliseum. Instead of Miami 2017, Billy Joel can right, Kansas City 2013 cause the Islanders will retreat to KC when they blow up the Coliseum. LOL

[Pearl Jammed]

LOL Zorin, Kansas CIty 2013! awesome....

from everything i have read, there wasn't much to pick from in goalies this year, but supposedly next year there are more than a handful who are considered good prospects

[Number6]

That's what happens when you have a former goaltender as GM :)

[RickyM2]

Anyone see the bargains they had on the clearance sale at the draft party???? I was disappointed I didnt see Zubrus in one of the bins. I was hoping I'd see him on the clearance rack along with the Trenton Devil warm up jerseys.

[TG]

I wasn't necessarily saying the Devils should have taken Palmieri.

I just knew they had a lot of interest in him. They talked to him several times. It turns out they got a player they didn't think would be available to them.

When I talked to Palmieri today, he was just happy he was picked. I'll have a story on him in Sunday's Record. I'll post a link when it's up.

[Sean Glickman]

What were the deals at the draft party?

Was there 6 sticks for 20 bucks again?

[Puckster]

We are going to have a lot of holes in last years lineup. Looks like we are going to lose Holik, Rupp, Gionta and Madden. Hopefully, we'll have cap room to make a nice acquisition on the free agent market. Even if we do, looks like some of the Lowell kids may make the jump up to the club.