Grading the New Jersey Devils' off-season moves

Alex Chauvancy breaks down - and attaches a letter - to Tom Fitzgerald's summer work.

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey, and everything else, with our writers and subscribers.

---

By Alex Chauvancy (@AlexC_THW)

We have reached September, which means hockey is right around the corner. Training camp opens in less than two weeks, followed by the Prospects Challenge in Buffalo two weekends from now. That means, barring something unforeseen, the bulk of the New Jersey Devils' off-season work is complete.

With games nearing, let's grade each major off-season move as we gear towards the 2022-23 campaign. 

Devils sign Ondrej Palát

Perhaps their most notable signing this off-season, the Devils gave Palát a five-year contract worth $30 million total. He's coming off 49 points in 77 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021-22, plus a third-straight Stanley Cup Final appearance. 

While Palát isn't the scorer Johnny Gaudreau is, the Devils still upgraded their top-six. He's averaged 20 goals and 55 points per 82 games over the last three seasons and 1.89 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five, rates you want to see from someone expected to play a top-six role. 

Even at 31 years old, Palát isn't yet showing signs of decline. His on-ice numbers at five-on-five are still quite good, and his wins above replacement (WAR) has been steady over the last three seasons: 

The issue with Palát isn't the player; it's the contract. Dishing out $30 million to a 31-year-old who's played quite a bit in the NHL carries more risk than the typical UFA signing. The hope is that the Devils get a few solid years out of him before he begins to decline in his mid-30s. A best-case scenario is he ages like Paul Stastny and is still producing ~20 goals and 40-plus points by the time he's 35. 

Even though Palát's contract could cause problems down the road, the Devils are still getting a quality player who will help the team for the next couple of seasons at a minimum. There's something to be said about his winning pedigree also, which should help a young squad that's needed more veteran experience in the locker room. 

Grade: B+

Devils acquire Vanecek, draft Casey