The New Jersey Devils have glaring holes in their roster, but the biggest need this offseason is clearly defense. Upcoming free agent Kris Russell could help build the team’s depth on the blue line.
Kris Russell is enjoying a very nice playoff run with the Edmonton Oilers. He goes into game seven with the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday night, much further than many expect the Oilers to go this season. Russell has been one of the most underrated signings of the offseason, helping his team finish 8th in goals against this season.
Russell is not a top-pairing defenseman. He wouldn’t fix the Devils problems overnight, but he is definitely part of the solution. He would be an above average second-line pairing. Hopefully, the Devils will add a top-line defenseman in the trade market so that either Andy Greene or Damon Severson could play with Russell.
He’s been very good this postseason. Russell has been posting more than 22 minutes per game, and he’s a +2.
Russell isn’t the guy who is going to score from the blue line. He only has 39 total goals in nine seasons. The Devils don’t need goals from its defense, the team needs someone who could keep goals off the board.
The Devils had a chance last offseason to sign Russell, as every team did. He was out there until the beginning of October when he signed a one-year deal with the Oilers. He’s likely looking for more than a one-year deal this offseason, but at just 30 years old a two or three year deal won’t hurt whatever team signs him.
Again, Russell won’t be the answer to the Devils defensive woes, but he does a lot the team needs right now.
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This is a very weak free-agent class. Kevin Shattenkirk is the cream of the crop on defense, and then it drops off to Karl Azner. After that there is a bunch of players who teams will desperately pursue after losing out on the first two. The Devils should try to lock up Russell before that desperation hits. If the Devils sign him with Shattenkirk still on the market, they could probably save some money.
Russell could sign with the Devils for similar money that they gave Ben Lovejoy. Hopefully, that would be the only thing the two have in common. Three million dollars for two or three seasons would do wonders building the depth of the D. It gives them the ability to spend big on another defenseman and add depth to the bottom six.