While there’s no telling whether upcoming unrestricted free agents Paul Martin and Ilya Kovalchuk will be back in New Jersey next season, it appears the Devils are close to re-signing defenseman Mike Mottau, who also could be a full free agent July 1.
Both term and salary are yet to be finalized, but sources say early talks have yielded optimism that the 32-year-old Mottau will return for at least a fourth season with New Jersey. Mottau earned $775,000 last season.
Meanwhile, Martin told The Post that he and GM Lou Lamoriello agreed to wait until after a new Devils coach is hired to discuss contract. That scenario could be troublesome, considering that Jacques Lemaire was hired last July 13 and other teams could swoop up Martin, who made $4.5 million last season, on July 1.
The Devils have launched talks with Kovalchuk, but it appears the superstar left wing who earned $7.5 million last season will be testing the market, seeing if any team can make the expected massive bid from Russian team St. Petersburg an offer that can be refused.