On the New Jersey Devils and Damon Severson …
Chris Ryan of NJ.com: Devils GM Ray Shero doesn’t expect any hiccups with their remaining restricted free agents. Defenseman Damon Severson isn’t arbitration eligible.
“Guys like Damon Severson we’ll take some time on because we’ll get some different options with him,” Shero said. “He’s still a young defenseman that we’re excited to work with, and we want to make sure he understands that. So we’ll get some options with him and his agent, and there’s no rush there.”
The Devils could sign Severson to a one-year deal and then re-visit next year. He’d be arbitration eligible after next season if they did a one-year deal. A one-year deal could cost the Devils a $1 million or less.
On a two- or three-year bridge deal, Senators defenseman Cody Ceci could be a comparable (two years at $2.8 million per), Jets Jacob Trouba (two years at $3 million per) and Jake McCabe (three years at $1.6 million per).
On a long-term deal, potential comparables could be Colton Parayko (five years at $5.5 million per), Jaccob Slavin (seven years at $5.3 million per), Morgan Rielly (six years at $5 million per) and Shayne Gostisbehere (six years at $4.5 million per).
On Calgary Flames winger Johnny Gaudreau …
Andrew Porter of CBS Philadelphia: Johnny Gaudreau grew up a Philadelphia Flyers fan and was asked about possibly playing for the Flyers one day.
“Yeah it’d be sweet,” Gaudreau told the 94WIP Morning Show when asked about potentially playing for the Flyers.
“I’ve got a ton of family here, all my friends — I actually have a wedding this week here in South Jersey. All my friends come back here, all my good friends, and kids that I’ve played with my whole life are from South Jersey. So, it would be sweet to play here some day. You know you never know in sports, but it’s a lot of support back here in South Jersey and the Philly area.”
Gaudreau is under contract for another five years and won’t become a UFA until 2022-23.
Wes Gilbertson of the Calgary Sun: After the Flyers comment Gaudreau immediately praised being in Calgary and the fans that follow team. The context of Gaudreau’s statement when listening to the before and after isn’t as bad as opposed to just looking at the Flyers part.