Bobby Holik
Do the Devils ever have a player leave in just normal fashion? Bobby Holik left the Devils to sign a massive deal with the New York Rangers. Glen Sather gave Holik a five-year deal worth a total of $45 million dollars. For perspective, back in 2002, Bobby Holik was making more per season than Jack Hughes will. He makes more than anyone on the current Devils other than P.K. Subban, who had matching average annual values.
It was a terrible contract, but it was a contract a desperate Rangers team felt like it needed to make. Not only do they get a fabulous two-way center, but they take him away from their biggest rival at the time.
We all know how it worked out. It’s sarcastically celebrated by Rangers fans the same way the Bobby Bonilla contract is celebrated on July 1st. He was eventually bought out, and Holik was looking for a way to salvage his career. After the 2004-05 NHL Lockout, he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers. He spent three years there, and he was a fine player for them.
The Devils signed Holik and Brian Rolston on the same day in 2008. They were bringing back reinforcements to try and make a run to the Stanley Cup. It didn’t really work, as the Devils lost in brutal fashion to the Carolina Hurricanes in the playoffs. Holik was eventually considered a healthy scratch towards the end of the season, and he retired as soon as the season was over. He just wasn’t close to the same player, and the Devils found better production elsewhere.