Last season wasn't very kind to many players on the New Jersey Devils.
For some the off-season hasn't been much better as plenty of now ex-Devils looking for work elsewhere are struggling to find it.
Beyond Pete Harrold, who signed a two-way contract with St. Louis, no unrestricted free agent that laced up their skates with the Devils last season has been able to get a contract more than two weeks into free agency.
Scott Gomez had 34 points in 58 games for the Devils after being signed by the team during the season. Steve Bernier scored 16 goals and tallied 32 points - the same total as Matt Beleskey - in 67 games. Marek Zidlicky combined for 34 points in New Jersey and Detroit last season.
Despite all being serviceable players who surely wouldn't cost much to sign in either term or dollars they - along with Michael Ryder and Martin Havlat - remain unsigned and there's nothing out there that would suggest anything is close.
Teams league wide are putting a priority on getting younger, faster, etc. and that certainly works against all of those players. That there are so many good depth players on the market and not many holes in rosters certainly doesn't help, either.
I'm sure most of these ex-Devils will find work. They just may have to wait a while (or even accept a camp invite) to get it.
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»