The Devils may be a different looking team than they were last year, but general manager Lou Lamoriello made sure they won’t look too different.
Yesterday, one day before free agency officially begins, Lamoriello locked up the franchise’s leading scorer, Patrik Elias, with a three-year, $16.5 million contract. The $5.5 million annual salary cap hit will most likely take the 37-year-old Elias to the end of his sparkling career, one that started when he was a second-round pick of the Devils in 1994.
“To Lou, all my teammates and Devils’ fans, I’m excited to sign a new contract and be back with New Jersey,” Elias said in a statement. “This year marks my 17th year with the Devils and it’s very special to be a member of one organization for my entire career. We’ve shared some great moments together and I look forward to working with everyone to create new ones. Go Devils!”
Elias reportedly has a full no-movement clause, as the seven-year, $42 million contract he just completed also had. At the end of last season, as the Devils floundered and missed the playoffs one season after reaching the Stanley Cup finals, Elias was visibly distraught at the plight of the franchise. Yet, Lamoriello wasn’t about to let him just walk out the door.
“He’s been here since he was 18 years old and his contribution speaks for itself both on and off the ice as far as the way he plays,” Lamoriello told the Bergen Record. “He’s still an elite player in this league and [plays] in all situations and does anything you ask. Really, this will keep him a Devil and, in my opinion, he’ll retire a Devil.”
Lamoriello also inked 35-year-old forward Dainius Zubrus to a three-year, $9.3 million deal. The 6-foot-5, 225-pounder played in only 22 games for the Devils last season and had surgery to repair a torn ligament in his wrist.
“When you talk about the orchestra, you have all kinds of instruments and his size, strength and his character, his leadership [are important], also his play,” Lamoriello said of Zubrus. “His best play has always come in the playoffs for us.”
Lamoriello also made one tough decision yesterday, using a compliance buyout on veteran goalie Johan Hedberg. After Sunday’s draft-day trade with the Canucks for future starter Cory Schneider, Hedberg was out of his job as Martin Brodeur’s backup. Lamoriello tried to trade Hedberg, but was unsuccessful and the 40-year-old will be an unrestricted free agent.
* Reports out of Ottawa said free-agent winger David Clarkson met with Senators GM Bryan Murray on Wednesday and the former Devil was being targeted by the team.