New Jersey Devils: 7 Free Agents Who Should be Re-signed

Kyle Palmieri (restricted)

This is a no-brainer and should be the team’s #1 priority this offseason. The trade at last year’s draft to get Palmieri is Ray Shero’s best move to-date as the Devils GM. It immediately paid off. Palmieri ended up exceeding expectations and had a breakout year.  30 goals. 27 assists. He was the leading scorer and played in all 82 games. At only 25 years old, he is about to enter the prime of his career with his best years ahead of him. Do the right thing and lock this guy up, sign the hometown kid to a long-term deal.

I see him in the $5-6 million/year range for 5 or 6 years.  He won’t get a max-year deal or make “super star” money, but it would be a fair deal for both sides. He would only be signed until he was 30 or 31 anyway, so if for some reason he does start to decline, the Devils wouldn’t be stuck over-paying for an aging player (think Dainus Zubrus).  If he still is producing by that time, the Devils can extend him.  It’s a win-win situation.

Contract talks are slated to begin the next few weeks when Shero returns from the World Championships in Russia. Based on his comments from a few weeks ago, he seems very confident that a deal will get done. “One way or another, he’s going to be signed,” Shero said to NJ.com. Do the right thing, Ray. Give Palmieri the raise he’s earned and deserves.