Reilly Walsh
The New Jersey Devils want to figure out what to do with the right side of the defense. They just traded Damon Severson to the Columbus Blue Jackets, ending the longest-tenured player’s time with the Devils. He signed an eight-year deal in Ohio, something the Devils were never going to give them. Now, the Devils have a glaring opening on the right side.
The general consensus is that Simon Nemec will get an opportunity to take that spot. That’s probably true, but it’s not a guarantee. Nemec will get any and all possible chances to take that spot.
However, if he doesn’t steal that spot, most fans expect the Devils to bring in a veteran presence to help implement a decent defense in the meantime. That might not be the case. The Devils have a right-handed defenseman who played very well over the last two years.
Reilly Walsh had 43 points last season and 41 points this past season. He focused more on the defensive side this season, but he still did very well on the offensive side. Walsh was the best player for the Utica Comets in the playoffs. Now, he’s heading into restricted free agency. Will the Devils be able to come to an agreement with the University of Harvard grad? Will they need to guarantee a roster spot to do it? Don’t be surprised if Walsh gets a one-year deal.