This will be an ongoing article from now until at least July 1st. I will try to break down which free-agents I believe the Devils should pursue this summer.
Brian Campbell - D - Buffalo Sabres/San Jose Sharks
'07-'08 salary: $1,750,000
Campbell is the #1 defensive free agent who will be available on the market this summer. He is also due for a hefty pay raise from the $1,750,000 and it could approach well above the $6 million range. It kinda makes you wonder why the Sabres wouldn't at least make an offer at $5.5 million before the season started... But that is besides the point.
If the Devils could somehow land Campbell, it would do 2 things for the franchise. 1.) Show the fans that they are truly committed to getting back to the Stanley Cup finals. Fans have longed to hear a big name coming into Jersey at the peak of the career and are disappointed in settling with big names on the downside to retirement. 2.) It gives the Devils the replacement for Brian Rafalski they were looking for since he left for Detroit.
Campbell's price-tag is going to push him well out of the Devils' range, in my opinion. They have never been a team to go after the big name free agent, but it may be time to bring in some quality, proven veteran help for the upkeep on the franchise.
Chance of happening: 10%
UPDATE 7/1: Campbell has signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for 8 years, $56.8 million.
John Michael Liles - D - Colorado Avalanche
'07-'08 salary: $1,400,000
Liles should be right along side Campbell in the sought after defenseman department. A great puck moving defnseman who can easily be the go-to guy on the point on the power play lines. Liles tallied 6 goals, 26 assists during the '07-'08 season, including 20 points on the power play [5 goals, 15 assists]. Liles would be the prototypical replacement for Rafalski that the Devils have been seeking since last summer. Many people around the NHL felt that if the Avalanche made him available over the course of the season, he would have ended up with NJ. Many also speculated that last summer he would find his way to the devils via trade. [Says a lot for the amount of speculation out there, huh?]
Liless is a smaller defender at 5'10" and 185 pounds, but he makes up for the size difference in speed and awareness, just like Rafalski. Over his 4 seasons in the NHL, Liles averaged 40 points, including an average of 17 points on the power play. It will definitely take significantly more than he made last season. My guess it will be something between four and five million. The Devils should take the extra $6.4 million in cap space the NHL just opened up for every team and allocate some of those funds towards acquiring Liles.
Probability of Happening: 0%
UPDATE 6/30: Liles has resigned with Colorado: 4 yrs/$4+ million
Dimitri Kalinin - D - Buffalo Sabres
'07-'08 salary: $2,250,000
Kalinin was looked upon by the Sabres to fill the void after Brian Campbell departed, and it was not a role he was able to do. Kalinin is not going to blow you away with his speed, but he has great hockey sense. He's a very offensive minded defenseman and can handle the puck well, especially in the defensive zone. He does get a little nervous when forced to be a part of a fast paced offensive system like the Sabres had. He'd be a good fit for the Devils because their tempo is not nearly as fast as Buffalo's.
At6'3", 203, Kalinin would bring some much needed size to the Devils back line as well. Hurt in late October, Kalinin missed two months and played only 46 games, amassing a mere 8 points in the 07-08 campaign. He averages over 20 points a season, including a career best 34 in '03-'04 and another superb yeah in 06-07 with 29. Obviously, Kalinin should not be target #1 on the Devils radar but it is not unrealistic to see him as a fall back plan after Campbell and Liles are off the market. 2 years/$2.3 million per year could be a realistic offer for Kalinin.
Probability of happening: 40%
RESULT: Signed with the Rangers
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