The New Jersey Devils announced they signed Nick Lappin to a one-year deal. It’s curious they didn’t sign him for longer than that.
Nick Lappin is coming back to the New Jersey Devils on a one-year, two-way contract worth $700,000 on the NHL level and $250,000 on the AHL level. Lappin could easily become a regular with the Devils, so it’s interesting to see GM Ray Shero only give him a one-year deal.
Lappin has had an up and down career so far. He did not play very well in his first professional season, but to be fair nobody was good on that 2016-17 Devils team. He played 43 games with the big club. He only scored four goals with three assists.
Last season, he only spent six games in the NHL. However, he was much better for the Binghamton Devils. He scored his first 30 goal season since possibly high school. He’s been close to a point-per-game player in the AHL. However, when he gets to the NHL he seems to play below his potential.
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Lappin will be one of many young forwards who are given a chance to make the roster if the Devils don’t make any trades this offseason. There are one or two spots still open on the NHL roster. He’s definitely not the favorite, but he’ll get a fair shot.
Lappin is 25 years old. The Devils signed him out of college after he went undrafted. It was a flier when the Devils signed him, and after three years in the minors were getting to the make or break point.
Lappin will remain a restricted free agent following this deal. That means the Devils retain his rights if they decide to give him a qualifying offer. That may be the driving force behind signing Lappin to just a one-year deal. However, if they thought he was ready to make the jump, one must think they’d try to sign him for at least two years.