The New Jersey Devils had big news today: the team agreed to terms with Dainus Zubrus on a new contract. The news was broken by www.nbcsports.com and the deal according to their report, is a 3 year deal worth $3 million per year.
On a personal level, I am very excited about this move because Zubrus is a fan favorite on the Devils roster. I really enjoy watching him play, and I am glad he did not leave via free agency. He has played for 6 years for the Devils and his original deal paid him at a rate of $3.4 million per year (www.nbcsports.com).
A Pay Cut – no big deal
The media has spun the fact that Zubrus took a pay cut today, but he had played overseas for years before joining the Devils. So he is now 35 years old and coming off a bad season in 2013. He had 2 goals and 9 total points in 22 games in 2013 (www.nhl.com) and he also had wrist surgery last season, which I think contributed to the poor performance. A player like Zubrus gets a lot of velocity on his shot and the torque on his passes from his wrists. When that area is injured, then a player can have difficulty adjusting their game.
However, I think Zubrus is going to bounce back and have a very solid year for the Devils in 2013-14. I think he is capable of producing goals for this offensively starved team. I think he wanted to come back to the Devils, and he also knew that other teams probably would not offer him more than a 1 year deal coming off that poor season in 2013. He has been loyal to the Devils, and they showed faith in him by giving him a 3 year deal at 35 years old.
I also do not think it is a big deal that he took a pay cut, he is also thinking about the entire team concept. The Devils have to negotiate with several free agents this offseason including Patrick Elias and David Clarkson.
The NBC Sports.com article I read also mentioned that the timing on the Zubrus deal was deliberate to help persuade David Clarkson that the Devils were willing to bring back veteran players to make a serious playoff run. I also think the timing was deliberate with the Draft approaching this weekend, the Devils wanted to make sure that they had one of their top forwards signed in case they do not get the player they want in the first round.
Impact on the Draft
I still think that the Devils can obtain a top offensive prospect in the Draft, but this pick is a big one for the organization because the Devils do not have a 1st round pick next year. They are forfeiting their first round selection next year as part of the penalty for the Ilya Kovalchuk contract, where the NHL charged the Devils with attempting to circumvent the salary cap.
The signing of Zubrus I think takes the pressure off the Devils front office of having to get an “NHL ready” player in the first round. They could take a guy like Bo Horvat, who is a center that needs more minor league preparation time before making the jump to the NHL.
Fan Favorite – Zubrus
The Devils fan base is loyal to their players, especially guys who came into the league with the team. Zubrus is one of those guys who endeared himself to Devils fans because he is a grinder, he gets in there as a forward and is not afraid to do the dirty work. He can make hits along the boards, and he forechecks well. He is a hard nosed, tough player and Devils fans love that because it embodies New Jersey: strong, tough, resilient, and hard working people.
That is why myself and the many fans in the Devils Army are so happy today. I am thrilled to be able to watch Dainus Zubrus continue his Devils career and I wish him all the success in the world in his new contract.