It looks like Zajac and Devils will go to arbitration on Friday

There are still four days to go until Devils center Travis Zajac's arbitration hearing, so there is still time for the sides to reach an agreement and avoid the often-antagonistic process. At this point, howwever, it's looking like there will be a hearing on Friday in Toronto, though Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said he will continue to work to avoid that.

"As of right now, there is nothing that has been settled, so that's the indication (that they will go to a hearing), but you never know," Lamoriello said. "We'll try right up until the last minute (to re-sign Zajac)."

The Devils will still be able to re-sign Zajac after the hearing, but before the arbitrator issues his decision on the award. Usually, the arbitrator has 48 hours to hand down a decision, but, because the hearing is on a Friday, it is possible the decision might not come until Monday (rather than on a Sunday).

After the arbitrator hands down the award, the Devils have 48 hours to either accept the decision or walk away from it, which would make Zajac an unrestricted free agent. Lamoriello has already pretty much said that he won't be walking away from the decision.

Working a deal out before the arbitrator makes a ruling would allow the Devils to sign Zajac for more than two seasons. When the player files for arbitration, the team can only ask for a one- or two-year deal 

Lamoriello said he has not decided yet which of those he will ask for.

I left telephone messages today from Zajac and his agent, Kurt Overhardt, this afternoon, but have not heard back from either, yet.

***

There was a lot of discussion last week of where defenseman Cory Murphy fits into the team's plans, so I asked Lamoriello that question today.

"He's an offensive defenseman with a high-level of skill and you can see what he did when he was in Tampa," Lamoriello said. "We're going to give him an opportunity to see what he can do."

Murphy, 31, signed a one-year, two-way contract with an NHL salary of $500,000 (I haven't found out the AHL salary, yet). The 5-foot-10, 185-pound Kanata, Ontario had five goals and 10 assists in 25 games last season with Tampa Bay after the Lightning claimed him off re-entry waivers from Florida. In 54 games over two season with the Panthers, Murphy had two goals and 16 assists.

If Murphy were to make the Devils, he would give them a rare right-handed shot.  Of the other defensemen that will either be on the NHL team or have a chance to make it in training camp, Matt Corrente is the only other one with a right-handed shot.

Lamoriello isn't ready to say that Murphy will definitely be on the team in New Jersey, though.

"I don't know," Lamoriello said. "We're not sure. He's going to be given every opportunity, but we'll see. He's on a two-way contract, so we'll see."

Before signing a two-year deal with Florida in 2007, Murphy, a Colgate University product, played professionally for six seasons in Finland and won the Lasse Oksanen Trophy as the most valuable player of the Finnish League in 2006-07 by putting up 50 points (13 goals, 37 assists) in 45 games for HIFK Helsinki.

Why did it take so long for a player with Murphy's offensive numbers to get a chance to play in the NHL?

"The same reason it took Brian Rafalski (so long)," Lamoriello said. "He's not really big in size and sometimes the history of where you played before (plays into it). He was at Colgate University and he was overlooked."

At this point, the Devils have six defensemen on one-way contracts that almost certainly will be on the team in 2009-10 (barring a trade): Paul Martin, Johnny Oduya, Colin White, Mike Mottau, Bryce Salvador and Andy Greene. They also have Jay Leach and Murphy, who are older players on two-way contracts and rookies such as Matt Corrente and Tyler Eckford, who will have an opportunity to make the team in training camp.

I asked Lamoriello if he sees the team's defense coming from the players he currently has under contract.

"I see it, but if we will get better, we will," Lamoriello said. 

So, it remains possible the the Devils will add another defenseman. Sergei Zubov remains unsigned.

Comments

[mikeford]

I weep for the loss of Kevin Weekes.

[topshlf]

"
"He's an offensive defenseman with a high-level of skill and you can see what he did when he was in Tampa," Lamoriello said. "We're going to give him an opportunity to see what he can do." "

"He's going to be given every opportunity,"

They're hoping this guy is going to be their powerplay point man and like Lou said, they will give him every opportunity to succeed.

He, (through fault of his own) may wind up being a depth player, but that's certainly not what the Devils had in mind by bringing him here.

I predict this guy will be another good find by Lou. Let's all hope. :)

[DrivinMeNutz29]

i called weekes the day he signed with the rangers and told him to wear his suntan lotion to the devils games this year because we where gonna light him up like a x-mas tree!!! and then i hung up. That was great.

[nnjrules]

TG,
Keep up the zubov name drops for me. While your at it, tell Gen. Lou that if he signs zubov and trades for Boogard I will double my season tickets from 4 to 8!! Make it happen TG

[don]

TG--if the devils choose to have the arbitrator determine a two year contract, at the end of that time will zajac be an UFA or will he still owe the devils one more year of service with the devils having the right to be the party demanding arbitration if they choose?

[topshlf]

Boogard would be nice. :)

I would have liked to have seen them grab McGrattan. Calgary got him for the league minimum. I like PL3, but he's going to have to face Brashear and that might not always be too pretty. McGrattan is one of the rare fighters to have beaten Brashear. Would have been nice. :)

[SA77]

Yeah and trade for Georges Laraque while at it)

[TG]

If Zajac gets a two-year deal, he would have one more year to go after that to be a UFA, under the current CBA.

BUT (and it's a big but), the CBA expires after 2010-11 season (on Sept. 15, 2011, actually), so the rules might change.

[Neil S]

PL3 more than held his own against Brashear in their preseason fight last year, not many rookie fighters can say that. It took Colton Orr a long time to figure out Brashear. Boogaard can hit but he's got a cranky back, and McGrattan can be an off ice problem as well as recovering from shoulder surgery. PL3 will be fine this year.

[don]

well, it would seem that unless the next CBA extends the time until a player can be a free agent--which would seem not to be the case according to recent history--then going to a two year arbitration with zajac (if necessary) --will not make him an UFA any sooner, so maybe even if the do go ahead and have the hearing, it isn't the end of the world...thanks, TG

[TG]

Lou Lamoriello said he isn't sure the guy is even going to be on the NHL team, so, again, it would be wise to scale back the expectations on Murphy. They can always hope, but to go into training camp expecting him to be one of their power play pointmen would probably be unrealistic.

So far he has yet to prove he can overcome his lack of size and stay healthy at the NHL level. That might be his biggest obstacle.

[SA77]

I wouldn't worry about loosing Zajac in two years. Yes, he proved that he can play but playing on the same line with Parise made it alot easier for him. I actually think that better top line center would improve Parises praduction as well. So if Travis walks after two seasons it may turn out to be a good thing with Cormier and Josefson claiming top two center spots.

[Neil S]

I don't see anything about Cormier that suggests he would be better than Zajac as far as helping Parise's production. Zajac and Parise already have a good chemistry together, and both of them had career years last year. I don't think you can really say Zajac walking in a couple years would be ok until you see how Cormier does when he leaves the QMJHL. I think he'll be good, but to automatically pencil him in as Zajac's possible replacement if the arbitration gets ugly may be premature.

[Philly Devil]

Patty Cormier will be in Lowell this year.

I've worked in teh Arbitration field for over 9 years and have a history with a particular arb is was the FIRST female arb ever to be employed by any of the major pro sports leagues. YOu guys are going crazy for no reaosn. This is not a situation where parties are at each other's throat's..this is a good arbitration. This is much different than the Lou and Niedermeyer arbitration hearings. Also, this is not a situation where Mike Millbury ripped a part Tommy Salo to tears after Tommy made him look good for a year.

Calm down people, the worse thing that could happen is you get an Arb who know's nothing about hockey and that can happen. All of you have to do is look at an Arb I know and the horrible decision they gave Coyotes and Grezt in reagrds to Mike York.

However, whomever think's Travi deserves a huge ($$) contract better get a clue. He has much to prove and had a very good year last year, not great..very good after a soph slump.

[TG]

Patrice Cormier is not eligible to play in Lowell in 2009-10. He has to go back to junior if he's not on the NHL roster.

[SA77]

I didn't say Cormier was automatic, I'm just saying there'll be options if Zajac walks away which is also not automatic

[Devilsjab30]

They are already down a proven 2nd line center. Losing Zajac for nothing would be catastrophic. Lou let it happen with Gomer by not trading him, I can't see him making the same mistake twice.

TG - with the uncertainty of the CBA do you think Lou would opt for the 1yr award over the 2 yr in fear of losing him altogether when a new CBA is signed?

[TG]

In this case, I'm not sure if there's much of a difference between a one-year deal and a two-year deal other than avoiding the whole process again next year if the Devils ask for a two-year award.

If it's a one-year award and Zajac doesn't have a great year, he'll probably just accept the one-year qualifying offer next year. Either way, I doubt Zajac would take more than a one-year deal next year in this situation. And it would be annoying to go to arbitration again next year.

So, the Devils might as well ask for two years and avoid this whole process next year.

[modnarm]

instead of giving more players shots to make the team.. WHY NOT GET A PLAYER THAT GIVEES US A SHOT TO WIN THE CUP!........ Zubov. 'oh hes injury prone wahh wahh'. Then put whoever played in his spot last year.. back in his spot and poof- 4th best d in the league is back to where it was last year. we have nothing to lose by signing him but a LOT to gain.

playing mystery man with these dmen is really stupid, considering the guys that their being paired with aren't that great either!!! Its not like we have a Nieds and Stevens and Rafalski where we can just go 'trying out' different players. We have Martin and Oduya.. who play well together but Oduya isn't quite that great with anyone else. White isn't BAD but isn't great. Salvador isn't horrible.. but isn't all that great. Mottau is a mystery to me how he and White have good +/-. Maybe they're on the ice when ZZpops is on the ice? Greene is ... well what is he really. Leach.. and now Murphy?

Heck if the right handed shot is that important i'd switch Murphy for Mottau if camp performances warrant it.

I hate guessing what the combos and lines will be cuz i don't want to think them up with the scenario as if Lou won't be making a trade for a 2nd line center. I KNOW HE WILL I KNOW HE WILL .. Theres no place like home.. click.. click.. click.. hhhhh.

With trading the 'excess D', we solve the abundance of 5-7th dmen issue, get our center.. then sign Zubov to solidify the puzzle and POOF! A Cup contending team is born!

will Lou do it though. Just 2 things. He JUST NEEDS TO MAKE 2 MOVES!!!!! HES LOU! He can do it if he wants to. DOooo IT!

In Lou and Lemaire I trust.

[EZ]

Tanguay?

[modnarm]

not a center or top D so NO.

[Mike]

I hope Zajac is ready for the arbitration hearing to not be so nice to him. He is a good player. NOT a great player. I don't know what the number is that he wants but it had better be comparable to other players with his stats and age. If this is some sort of strong arm tactic because he knows we are short supply of centers then this will be the beginning of the end for Travis in a Devils uniform. I like Travis a lot. But no one is going to sit at a table with his buddies and boast, "We've got TRAVIS ZAJAC!" The response goes something like this. "Who?"

[DTK]

We were a cup contender last year, and we still are this year...
MODNARM -
Our D WAS 4th in the league, and all of them are healthy, so I would say your negative comments are brainless due to the fact that using our Back up goalies, OUR DEFENSE WAS BETTER THEN 26 of the NHL teams, so bashing that side of the blue line is pointless given that our current group of defenders have proven themselves - our breakdown was a much deeper issue, and wont be solved by trading and switching out zubov or other defenders...

Our power play unit was week, and our offense lacked the extra spark that should have converted at least 2 more goals during that game 7 -

also, there were defensive breakdowns late in the games during that series that could have been avoided if our defenders had given a different approach that has nothing to do with their skill, and JL will be sure to correct that...

OUR DEFENSE IS MORE THAN CAPABLE OF GETTING TO THE CUP

our shot blocking and defensive desperation has to improve, and our powerplay and offensive approach can be beefed up - losing GIO has seriously hurt us, however bringing up some youth, and hopefully adding a trade or center will solve...however the team we have RIGHT NOW, is certainly capable of making the play offs, is just expect to get knocked out again in the 1st round...only the issue of staying healthy, and a big goal scorer/or center will help us get out of the 1st round