The New Jersey Devils are just about done this offseason. According to PuckPedia, they have close to $5 million left in cap space. With that money, they have to re-sign Dawson Mercer, account some money for Nico Daws, and they have to re-sign Nolan Foote.
Due to the lack of real funds, many expect the Devils to give Mercer a short-term deal and work on something longer-term in the future. We suppose anything can happen, and there’s a lot to figure out with Mercer’s contract. He could sign anywhere between one and eight years, depending on what he would accept as far as term is concerned. It makes sense why this contract is taking so long.
One contract that shouldn’t take so long is the one for Nolan Foote. Even Nico Daws seems to have more to figure out than Foote, since he has to negotiate when he is getting a one-way or a two-way deal.
Foote missed almost all of last season. Going into the preseason, he seemed like he’d be in pretty good shape to take a spot in the opening-night lineup. Unfortunately, his injury happened in the preseason, and he didn’t return until April 9th. He only had one point (a goal) in four NHL games.
Foote didn’t join the lineup until the season was completely cooked. We didn’t learn until the season was over that Foote was dealing with a lower back disc injury. He said it’s something he’s been dealing with for years.
Nolan Foote had a lower-back, disc injury that had been lingering for the past four years.
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 17, 2024
That’s what kept him out this season. #NJDevils
So Foote not only came off an injury that lost his most important season to date, but the injury is the type that doesn’t just go away. The Devils need to see that he can survive a full season, and he needs to prove he’s an NHL-worthy contributor.
Why doesn't Nolan Foote have a new contract yet?
A one-year deal for around the NHL minimum makes sense. If that’s what we’re looking at, then why hasn’t it happened yet?
There are a few issues that need to be worked out, but they seem pretty small on the surface. One would assume the Devils would offer a one-way contract to Foote, but we have mentioned the lack of space on the team. A one-way does not impact Foote’s waiver exemption status (which he is not). No matter the contract, Foote would have to pass through waivers to play in the AHL (except for a conditioning stint or something of that ilk).
If that’s not what’s holding up this process, could it be money or term? Maybe the Devils want multiple years at little money, similar to what they did with Nathan Bastian. Maybe Foote is fighting to get a little more than the minimum. If he can squeeze out another $100,000 out of the Devils, that’s huge money for him at this point in his career.
Still, these are very small in the grand scheme of things. Is something bigger at play? It could be as simple as Tom Fitzgerald waiting until Mercer is done before moving on to Foote, or it could be a question about fit with the team in general. Bastian and Foote will likely fight for the final roster spot, but what will happen to the other is unclear. Only time will tell.