New Jersey Devils: 5 Contract Situations To Address This Offseason

Pavel Zacha

Let’s start off with probably the hardest decision Tom Fitzgerald has to make this season. While this won’t be the hardest contract to come to, it’s a decision Fitz has to make for the future. If Pavel Zacha wants to be paid based on where he slots in the lineup, then the Devils won’t like the demands he makes for his next deal. If he is a little more realistic with his contract demands, then this could go smoothly.

However, we’ve seen a contract dispute with Zacha before. Prior to signing his three-year deal that expires this offseason, Zacha signed a deal with Avangard Omsk of the KHL. It was a negotiating tactic that Zacha used with his agent Patrick Stefan. It got him a three-year deal, so we guess it kind of worked.

This time around, there is less of a future expectation for Zacha. The thought he could live up to his sixth-overall draft pick status is gone. Zacha is someone who is going to be good for power play points and 5v5 help, but he’s never going to be a star. What is that worth?

It’s really hard to figure out what Zacha might be worth. According to The Athletic’s player cards, Zacha is worth around $2.9 million. He’s making $2.25 million right now. If he’s paid something like $2.5-3 million, then it will be fine for the Devils to put him anywhere in the lineup. He’s making $3 million this season in cash, so anything less next year will be a pay cut. What kind of years is he worth? That’s the big question. He’s still a restricted free agent, but he’s arbitration eligible. That should force the two sides to make a quicker decision.