Three defensemen to monitor in free agency

The New Jersey Devils could add some depth on the right side as Simon Nemec insurance. Let's take a look at a few names they may consider.

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The free agent period officially begins this afternoon. Although I don’t expect the New Jersey Devils to make a significant splash, per se, I do expect some activity.

Among the items on the to-do list will be adding a little more depth on defense to provide insurance for a) injuries and; b) the possibility, no matter how small, Simon Nemec is not ready for full-time NHL duty come October.

With that in mind, here are a few names worth monitoring:

Cal Foote

Foote is hitting the open market after not being qualified by the Predators under new GM Barry Trotz.

Foote does not bring a lot to the table offensively. He is a stay at home type who likes to use his size (6’5’, 220 pounds) to his advantage, be it laying the body or getting in lanes to block shots.

He has played 141 regular season games and does have some playoff experience as well, playing 13 games for the Lightning during the 2021-22 post-season.

While he posted an underwhelming GAR of -2.3 with the Lightning this season, he flipped the switch with a +2.4 output in 24 games with the Predators – good for a season total of +0.1.

This after finishing with a GAR of +4.5 in 2021-22 and +3 in 2020-21.

Foote is rather limited in what he can do – you certainly wouldn’t want him logging more than 3rd pairing minutes – but he’s a serviceable 6/7/8 defensemen at the NHL level.

He doesn’t need to play every night, either, so he’s the kind of guy who could stop-gap for a month or two and then be nothing but a rotational piece from that point forward.

Given Fitzgerald’s affinity for big, heavy, blueliners – and the obvious connection with Nolan, who will likely be with the NHL team this year – I could see there being mutual interest.

I would expect it’d only take a one-year deal worth ~$1 million.

Erik Johnson