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Devils reach deal with defenseman Fraser

July 28, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

The Devils have re-signed defenseman Mark Fraser, avoiding arbitration slated for Friday.It is a one-way contract for one year, $500,000.Fraser played in 61 games last season -- totaling three goals,... Read on

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Report: Kovalchuk meets with Kings, but not to sign

July 12, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

With Ilya Kovalchuk in California to visit the Kings, Lou Lamoriello gave his familiar response that nothing had changed in the Devils' pursuit of the free agent forward.The GM then declined comment... Read on

With Ilya Kovalchuk in California to visit the Kings, Lou Lamoriello gave his familiar response that nothing had changed in the Devils' pursuit of the free agent forward.
	 
The GM then declined comment when asked if he believes Kovalchuk wants to stay in New Jersey.
	 
New Devils coach John MacLean said he had not attempted to talk to Kovalchuk, although such a free agent might like to know the hockey philosophy and offensive strategy he would play under.
	 
Kovalchuk's visit with the Kings was reported by
	 the Los Angeles Times.
	 
Kovalchuk was expected in Los Angeles on Sunday night for meetings Monday with Kings GM Dean Lombardi, who at least twice during negotiations has said his team was out of the running.
	 
Contrary to other reports, Lombardi said Kovalchuk is not expected to sign during the trip.
	 
"He is coming for a visit," Lombardi said, according to the Times. "It is a great opportunity for him to meet us and us to meet him. Reports of us signing him are utterly false."
	 
The Times reports
	 the meeting is taking place in El Segundo, Calif., and if a deal were close it would be at the team's offices in Los Angeles.
	 
The Devils have been waiting since free agency began July 1 on Kovalchuk's response to their offer to stay with them. He reportedly also is being courted by KHL teams in Russia.
	 
He and the Kings had not met face to face until today.
	 
"The Kings reportedly have offered two deals: 12 years at $63 million and 13 years at $84.5 million. Kovalchuk turned those down because he wanted and Alexander Ovechkin-like $10 million per season," the report says.
	 
"The Kings hope they can soon clinch the deal with terms they consider reasonable, maybe eight or nine years for about $8 million per year."
	 
The Devils are thought to have improved their bid from $60 million over seven years to $100 million over 17. They would have to clear significant salary-cap space to keep Kovalchuk, but plan to do so if necessary.

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Rob Niedermayer agrees to deal with Sabres

July 07, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

The Devils lost an unrestricted free agent today, but not Ilya Kovalchuk. Yet, anyway. Center Rob Niedermayer is reported to be signing with the Sabres after one season in New Jersey.Niedermayer,... Read on

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Kovalchuk decision expected soon; Devils still favorites

July 05, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

The Ilya Kovalchuk Watch resumes tomorrow, after the left wing's agent said tonight Kovalchuk had "narrowed down" his choices, with "details yet to be finalized."The Devils appeared to have the... Read on

The Ilya Kovalchuk Watch resumes tomorrow, after the left wing's agent said tonight Kovalchuk had "narrowed down" his choices, with "details yet to be finalized."
	 
The Devils appeared to have the inside track on signing him to what one source suggests will be a seven-year, $60 million package.
	 
While they may need to clear salary cap space before they could register such a deal, another source indicated that at least some of the Devils protected by no-trade clauses had not yet been asked to waive them.
	 
Keeping Kovalchuk would intensify the logjam on New Jersey's left wing, where Patrik Elias is likely to return now that Jason Arnott is on hand to play center. The Devils also have Zach Parise, up for restricted free agency next summer and unrestricted the summer after, Brian Rolston and Dainius Zubrus on the left side.
	 
The Devils have about $6 million in cap space available, counting 16 certain roster players. Aside from Kovalchuk, they'd also have to fill six other roster slots, probably for a total of $4 million, leaving some $2 million for Kovalchuk. They can exceed the $59.4 million cap by $5.94 million until the regular season begins, at which time they must comply.
	 
The Devils appeared to be the last NHL team standing in the bidding after the Kings dropped out of the running over the weekend, after Kovalchuk reportedly rejected their final offer.
	 
The Islanders indicated their interest in the 27-year-old, but it is believed that they never made a formal offer, let alone the reported $100 million over 10 years.
	 
Kovalchuk's Russian options, once reported at $12 million per season, were now claimed to have fallen to four years at $9 million each.
	 
The 27-year-old two-time 52-goal scorer is arguably the best-ever unrestricted. He made $7.5 million last season and turned down offers of $70 million over seven years and $100 million over 12 from the Thrashers before they traded him Feb. 4 to the Devils with Anssi Salmela for Niclas Bergfors, Johnny Oduya, prospect Patrice Cormier, a first-rounder and a swap of seconds.

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Report: Kovalchuk rejects Kings

July 04, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Ilya Kovalchuk has told the Kings he will not be signing with them, the Los Angeles Times reports."General manager Dean Lombardi said Sunday afternoon that the high-scoring free agent decided against... Read on

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Report: Kings unsure where they stand with Kovalchuk

July 02, 2010 , ι POST STAFF REPORT

Kings GM Dean Lombardi is "Not sure" where the team stands in its contract talks with free agent Ilya Kovalchuk, ESPN reports."Just hung up phone with Dean Lombardi. Asked him if he was closing in on... Read on

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Islanders sign Eaton, Jurcina

July 02, 2010 , ι ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Islanders have agreed to terms with defensemen Mark Eaton and Milan Jurcina. Eaton agreed to a two-year contract Friday after spending the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins. Jurcina... Read on

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Devils waive Pandolfo, Peters

June 30, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

The Devils have waived their third-longest current serving player, LW Jay Pandolfo, as well as enforcer Andrew Peters. If they clear waivers, the Devils can buy them out.Pandolfo, recovering from... Read on

The Devils have waived their third-longest current serving player, LW Jay Pandolfo, as well as enforcer Andrew Peters. If they clear waivers, the Devils can buy them out.
	 
Pandolfo, recovering from shoulder surgery, permitted the move. Agent Bob Murray said the move does not spell an end to Pandolfo's 13-year NHL career, all with New Jersey.
	 
Pandolfo, 35, played hurt last season after suffering a shoulder dislocation Oct. 24, in the same game in which Paul Martin broke his arm. He had nine points and was minus-10 in 52 games last year, and played 819 games, going 99-124-223. A winner of two Stanley Cups, Pandolfo combined with John Madden as the Devils' checkers for several seasons. He did not appear in the playoffs this year, after playing 131 postseason games, 11-22-33.
	 
Peters played 29 games for New Jersey last season, without notching a point.
	 
Pandolfo, heading to the final $2.5 million year of a three-year deal, could be bought out for $1.67 million, for a two-year cap hit of $833G, while Peters could be bought out for $333G, a two-year cap hit of $167G.
	 
Pandolfo made his Devils debut Nov. 14, 1996, and only Martin Brodeur and Patrik Elias have been Devils longer, on the current roster. He is a three-time Players' Player, and five-time Unsung Hero, as voted by his teammates.

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Devils sign Clarkson to three-year deal

June 30, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

Averting possible arbitration or, perhaps, a trade, the Devils have signed RW David Clarkson to a three-year contract, The Post has learned.Clarkson, 26, is believed to have agreed to salaries of $2... Read on

Averting possible arbitration or, perhaps, a trade, the Devils have signed RW David Clarkson to a three-year contract, The Post has learned.
	 
Clarkson, 26, is believed to have agreed to salaries of $2 million, $3 million and $3 million in his new contract
	 
Clarkson made $875G last season, a campaign ruined by a broken leg suffered from a Zdeno Chara slapshot Nov. 27. He missed 13 games before returning too soon, and after playing two games, went back on the shelf for 23 more. Clarkson was tied for the second-most goals on the team when he blocked Chara's shot. He finished 11-13-24 in 46 games.
	 
Clarkson would have become a restricted free agent tomorrow, and could have elected salary arbitration for a one-year deal that would have made him unrestricted next summer.
	 
Sources suggest that if Clarkson had not signed, he may well have been dealt to the Leafs for defenseman Tomas Kaberle, who stands to be unrestricted after this season. Each player would have one season left before unrestricted free agency, and for that one year, the Devils need defensemen, and the Leafs forwards.

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Devils hire Oates as assistant

June 29, 2010 , ι By MARK EVERSON

The Devils pulled a surprise today by going outside the organization to hire Adam Oates as an assistant to head coach John MacLean.Oates, 47, joins Larry Robinson and Chris Terreri as assistants,... Read on