Devils sign Davison, Stephen Gionta, etc.

   Well, here’s some news that you’ve been waiting for. The Devils announced this morning that they have signed the following players:

 

    Goaltenders: Gerald Coleman (who played in Trenton last season), Jeff Lerg.

 

    Defenseman: Rob Davison.

 

    Forwards: Stephen Gionta, Kyle Kucharski, Brad Mills, Jeff Prough, Ben Walter.

    

    We already knew about the Walter signing, but, for some reason, the Devils are announcing it again. The Davison signing was reported elsewhere last week, but apparently wasn't officially done until this week.

         

    Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said all of the players signed two-way contracts

 

    "It's to put Lowell in a very strong position, but also (provide) depth for here," Lamoriello said of the signings.

 

    Davison, 29, played 23 games with Vancouver last season, recording two assists and 51 penalty minutes. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound native of St. Catherines, Onatrio has three goals, 15 assists and 321 penalty minutes in 218 career NHL games with San Jose, the Islanders and Vancouver.

 

    Is Davison someone who could end up in New Jersey if needed?

 

    "He's been in the NHL for the last three years," Lamoriello said. "He has size and strength, is tough and can fight. So, once again, we'll see."

 

 

    The team's goaltending for Trenton and Lowell appears to be set now with the signings of Coleman, 24, and Lerg, 23. Lerg played four years at Michigan State and backstopped the Spartans to the NCAA title in 2006-07. He's only 5-6, 155, so that probably explains why he was never drafted.

 

   The additions of Coleman and Lerg give the Devils some depth in the minors in case prospect Jeff Frazee ends up in the NHL.

 

    "It's for depth," Lamoriello said. "We have five goaltenders under contract."

 

    Lamoriello acknowledged that Kevin Weekes wouldn't be re-signing with the team, but didn't rule out signing another veteran NHL goaltender before the season begins. So, it doesn't necessarily mean that either Yann Danis or Frazee will be Martin Brodeur's backup in 2009-10.

 

    "This is not saying this is going to be what it's going to be," Lamoriello said. "There's still time and we'll see."

 

        Lamoriello mentioned earlier this week that he would be signing some veterans and said today's signings represented "some of them. Rob Davison would be one of them, but not necessarily the end."

 

    That said, Lamoriello made it clear that there will still be an opportunity for young players in the organization to make the NHL team in training camp.

 

    "The way this roster is created, there will definitely be some young players in this lineup." Lamoriello said.

 

    That is a subject that Lamoriello has discussed with incoming head coach Jacques Lemaire.

 

    "There's three or four of these players that are right on the fence and we'll find out quickly (in training camp)," Lamoriello said. "Certainly, what Jacques brings and what I've seen with these young players, I'm totally comfortable. But our core will still be our core. Our six defensemen were here last year. It's going to be up to the younger players -- if it works out. If not, we have other plans."

 

***

 

Here's some info on the other players who were signed today.

 

Stephen Gionta: Brian Gionta's younger brother is back for his fourth season in Lowell.

 

Kyle Kucharski: An undrafted, 6-3, 200-pound left wing out of Boston College. He was a member of BC's 2007-08 national championship team. He had 10 goals and seven assists in 37 games in 2008-09l.

 

Coleman: Made two NHL relief appearances with Tampa Bay in 2005-06. Went 27-8-2 with a 2.38 GAA in 40 ECHL games last season with Trenton.

 

Lerg: Struggled last season with Michigan State, going 9-20-3 with a 2.94 GAA.

 

Brad Mills: Entering his third full season in the organization, the Yale graduate had five goals and 16 assists in 75 games last season with Lowell.

 

Jeff Prough: A 5-10, 170-pound right wing. Had 31 goals and 30 assists in 62 games with Trenton last season.

 

 

Comments

[JPL]

WooHooo!!! More Random Signings!!!!!!!

[Tom]

Random Signing Friday is once again upon us!! Yes!

[Rob]

Is stephen gionta a legit nhl prospect?

[Stan Fischler's Beard (AKA Moe)]

I knew since it was Friday that something would happen.

[Stan Fischler's Beard (AKA Moe)]

Who's this Kyle Kurcharski character? I've never heard the name.

[Jeff O.]

Since it's early in the day, maybe there's more to come. I love Random Signing Fridays! Hahaha. :)

[Stan Fischler's Beard (AKA Moe)]

And, by the way, let me be the first to acknowledge today's poetic declaration:

"This is not saying this is going to be
what it's going to be.
There's still time
and we'll see."

The quotes keep getting better and now he's beginning to rhyme!

[Tom]

I am of the opinion that Lou made those signings simply to provide us with a brand new thread to talk on. Remember folks, it's still early on Random Signing Friday so there still could be more to come. Is Fedor Fedorov still available?

[TG]

I've added some info on the players that were signed, including Kucharski, at the bottom of the post.

[Pearl Jammed]

this is, just as was mentioned above, just depth for Trenton and Lowell, i wouldnt read too much into it. As for Stephen Gionta he has been in our system for a while now, and i would have to think that if he were a legit NHL prospect he would have made it up for a few games at this point in his career. Thanks for keeping us in the loop TG.

[Rob]

Thank you, TG

[Mhowitzer]

is this possibly something that lou was focused on for the last week or so? does this mean he might look at the NEW JERSEY devils now and make some moves with the big club?

[Tom]

@Mhowitzer

I am afraid besides Shanahan that is probably all we are probably going to do before training camp. Maybe Lou surprises us, but I doubt it.

[frankied]

"Is stephen gionta a legit nhl prospect?"

no

[Mhowitzer]

my hope is still for a second line center, but I assume Lou has had time to talk to JL so if they felt we had a need for it then it would have been addressed by now....This is a make or break year for Rolston. He's back with his favorite coach so i hope we are going to see the best out of him, but he ultimately makes or breaks that 2nd line. at this point im more comfortable with bergfors whos going to be dying to make an impact

[J.O']

Ummm, Who??

[Tom]

I would have loved getting Koivu but the more I look at it, I don't think Jason Williams would be a terrible signing. I can certainly see him centering a line with Rolston and Elias.

[Rob]

Rolston is going to be a sleeper late round pick in my fantasy draft, or an early pickup during the season.

[Johlmri's Ghost]

Reads to me like Corrente would need a stellar camp to hang around with the Devils at the start of the season, seeing as Lou referred to the defense as all having been with the club last year. I'm all for using the six from last year plus Cory Murphy and letting Corrente develop further in the AHL... no need to rush him, Columbus-Blue-Jackets-style.

Nice to also get further confirmation that the youngin's will have a legitimate shot to make the club out of training camp. "Other plans" = Shanahan?

[Johlmri's Ghost]

@Tom, Jason Williams has reportedly received an offer with the Red Wings, and he's been with them before... and they need help scoring... so I doubt he'd look to the Devils. Plus, much as I touted getting him earlier in the off-season, he's really not that solid of a center; he's better as a winger. If he could be had on the cheap, I'd love for the Devils to sign him and just move him from line to line as an offense sparkplug or injury fill-in, but I can't believe that's better than what Detroit is offering him.

Oh, and Lou is a cheeky mo' fo' for talking about signing veterans and then stating that he was mostly alluding to Rob Davison. Cheeky indeed.

[Mhowitzer]

@Rob

I grabbed him with my last pick last year. Didnt work out well for me. But i replaced him with Phil Kessel early on - that was great....and bryzgolov (sp?) i replaced with tim thomas....needless to say i owned my league

[Tom]

@Johlmri's Ghost

I saw that offer to JW by the Red Wings as well. I think it's telling that he didn't accept it yet. Probably wants at least a two year deal. Plus, it seems he is buddies with Shanahan, but who knows.

[NJromano]

Prough an Lerg had great seasons last yr in Michigan and the ECHL

[NJromano]

i meant Lerg did good in 2007-2008

[Johlmri's Ghost]

@Tom

Fair enough. I forgot about his consultations with Shanahan. I still expect him to go back to Detroit, though - the market is drying up for his services and I doubt he'll get better offers than what he's received so far.

He could wait until training camps start and go for a tryout, but he'll definitely get less then. Or he could wait until the season starts and a team gets hit with injuries.

Those are tricky and risky waiting games, though, with nothing guaranteed.