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Yohann Auvitu Deserves Another Shot To Make New Jersey Devils

By Nick Villano

Oct 28, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Yohann Auvitu (33) reacts to a game winning goal by Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (not shown) during overtime at Prudential Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Devils 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Yohann Auvitu (33) reacts to a game winning goal by Chicago Blackhawks center Artem Anisimov (not shown) during overtime at Prudential Center. The Blackhawks defeated the Devils 3-2 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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The New Jersey Devils sorely need help on the blue line this offseason. While bigger moves need to be made, one thing that could help is bringing back Yohann Auvitu. 

The New Jersey Devils have a lot of interesting decisions to make on players who become restricted free agents this season. One of the more intriguing cases is that of Yohann Auvitu.

Auvitu started off the season very well for the Devils. He was a stalwart in their lineup when the team was playing its best. The team signed the French defenseman in the offseason with little expectation, and it looked like management may have hit a home run.

Head coach John Hynes must not have liked something in Auvitu’s game, because seemingly out of the blue he went from top four guy to barely in the lineup to healthy scratch to in the minors. It seemed like it happened overnight. One day Auvitu was a breath of fresh air on a mostly disappointing blue line, the next day he spent his last day of the season on the NHL roster.

He was eventually sent to the minors to make room for a returning Reid Boucher. It wasn’t long until management tried to again send Boucher to the AHL, only for him to get taken by the Vancouver Canucks. Take that information how you want.

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The 27 year old took a long time to get to the NHL, so it must have been a reality check when all of a sudden he was no longer there. Once he got sent down to the minors, he was bad. He was out for a few weeks with a lower-body injury. Now, he’s regularly a healthy scratch. Despite getting five goals and eight assists in just 29 games from the blue line, coaches don’t have faith in him.

Auvitu is a restricted free agent this offseason. He has the right to go back overseas if he wants, but if he is trying to make it in the big leagues the Devils can get him for cheap.

The player can clearly provide something to the Devils. He wasn’t afraid to take shots. He was a decent scoring threat. Auvitu isn’t young, but he still has upside to develop into a good NHL defenseman.

He had his shortcomings. Auvitu allowed goals at the worst time, but which Devils defenseman didn’t do that this year? At least this player gives the team a chance to score on the other side.

A full offseason with the Devils would do the Frenchman good. He has skill in the offensive zone, the team just needs to teach him how to excel on the other end. The Devils don’t need to go forward with Auvitu on the roster, but it doesn’t hurt to give him a shot in 2017-18.

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