Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils Offseason Upgrades: UFA Wingers

By Tyler Kelley

TORONTO, ON - APRIL 16: Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) just can't the shaft of his stick to connect with a floating puck which is already past Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40). Toronto Maple Leafs VS Boston Bruins during 3rd period action in Game 3 of Round 1, of NHL playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - APRIL 16: Toronto Maple Leafs left wing James van Riemsdyk (25) just can't the shaft of his stick to connect with a floating puck which is already past Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask (40). Toronto Maple Leafs VS Boston Bruins during 3rd period action in Game 3 of Round 1, of NHL playoffs at the Air Canada Centre. Toronto Star/Rick Madonik (Rick Madonik/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Tier 2

James Van Riemsdyk

Projected Contract 6 years $5.9 million AAV

JVR is a really interesting option.  I’ll lead with what I view as his two major downsides.  First, his goal scoring comes from an extremely concentrated area right in front of the net.  Next, he’s traditionally a LW and the Devils need is clearly at RW, or more generally someone who has shown the ability to play off-wing.

Now we can look at some positives.  What JVR lacks in the ability to dish out goals he more than makes up for with his ability to actually score goals.  His 21 goals at 5v5 are phenomenal and he may be the perfect fit in this top six.  Both the first and second lines seem to have the playmaker aspects taken care of and adding an established scorer would be huge.

Now I’m not sure if his signing him for 6 years at that AAV is ideal but he’s probably a better option than Kane and is definitely better than Perron.  Still, JVR isn’t my preferred addition for this top six.  The Devils should give him an offer but need to be careful with the term and AAV.  And with both JQ and McLeod expected to be NHL ready soon a long term addition like JVR may not be logical.

James Neal

Projected Contract 4 years $6 million AAV

Neal is projected to cost a little more than JVR, but I don’t think he brings enough to the table to justify it for the Devils.  Given their similar projections and their age difference, if the Devils are going to target any of these four I’ve listed so far it has to be JVR.

Neal is far more dependent on his teammates than JVR when it comes to generating offense. His overall on ice possession numbers aren’t nearly as good.  If I’m Ray Shero I look at Neal the same way I did Perron.  Too much money/term and not enough player.

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