- Rich Chere of NJ.com: The Devils are using their second buyout period and have put Dainius Zubrus on unconditional waivers for the purpose of buying him out. Zubrus still wants to play in the NHL over heading back to Europe.
“At this point, it’s the NHL or nothing. I’m training for the NHL,” Zubrus told NJ Advance Media via telephone from Lithuania. “Honestly, I still dream of winning the Stanley Cup. That dream is still there. When summertime training gets tough, I push myself hoping that it will happen.
“I hope to be on a team that makes a good run and gives me a chance. Once I clear waivers I’ll be a free agent and I can talk to anybody. That’s the plan.”
- Frank Seravalli: Zubrus’s contract was a 35+ deal so his full $3.1 million will count towards their salary cap.
- Rich Chere: Shero said that he wanted to use the second buyout period because he’s looking to sign or trade for more forwards.
- Tom Gulitti of The Record: Devils GM Ray Shero said he plans on talking again with Pavel Zacha’s agent next week to get a deal done. He needs to be signed by 5:00 pm on August 15th to be eligible to play in the NHL this season.
“Everything is good,” Shero said today. “Now that everything has settled down a little bit, we’ll reconnect with Patrik Stefan and give it a go to sign him. Hopefully, that’s going to be the case. As I told (Zacha), that’s our goal and it has been from the outset. I’ve said this before: there’s no red flags We’re going to get to it. So, we’ll get this thing going next week and, hopefully, get him signed.”
The delay is tied to “A” bonuses (ice time, goals, assists, points, points per game, etc.), something that former GM Lou Lamoriello refused to include. Shero will include some bonues, they just need to agree on the dollar amounts for specific categories.
Shero hopes to add a new director of amateur scouting soon.
“I want to do something in the relatively shorter term here,” Shero said. “I’ve been doing my due diligence with interviews, so, hopefully, within a week if not sooner.”
Candidates include Dan MacKinnon and Jay Heinbuck. Craig Button could be a long shot candidate.