It had been a long time since Damon Severson was in New Jersey. The Canadian defenseman, who was here in 2014-2015, was about to become a free agent, and clearly his future lay elsewhere than Newark.
The 6’2 right-hander had seasons of 33 and 46 points and was going to be in demand.
So the club gave the player a chance to see if he had any options on the table, and clearly, he did. He signed an eight-year, $50 million contract with the Devils, who immediately sent him to Columbus, Ohio.
In the end, that’s what he wanted.
Damon Severson and NJ are working on a sign and trade to Columbus. 8x$6.25M
– Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 9, 2023
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What you need to know is that signing before becoming an autonomous player allows him to have the eighth year of his contract. On July 1, this would have been impossible for him.
Remember that you can only sign for eight years with your team.
And the Devils, in exchange for negotiating rights, got a third-round pick. That’s why it happened the way it did… and it’s better than losing him for nothing at all.
The sign-and-trade trend, as seen in the NBA or with Matthew Tkachuk last year, is very interesting.
Personally, I welcome the sign and trade era of the NHL.
– Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) June 9, 2023
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Obviously, the advantage for Columbus is that the player won’t become autonomous and he wants to sign there right away. This opportunity was too good to pass up.
Paying a third-round pick is the lesser evil.
The Jackets also acquired Ivan Provorov just this week. The club was looking for reinforcements on the blue line to avoid ending up in the lower echelons of the NHL.
And the club’s top-4 is well on its way.
Werenski-Severson
Provorov-Jiricek
In a division that may be getting less and less interesting, the Blue Jackets (under Mike Babcock…) are giving themselves the means to have a great season – on paper, at least.
Will it work?
The Caps are in decline. So are the Flyers and Penguins. Maybe a silver lining for the Jackets in their division. https://t.co/AdJ4Eb1oTX
– Alexandre Pratt (@alexandrepratt) June 9, 2023
Johnny Gaudreau must be happy.
Let’s also remember that the Blue Jackets will be drafting third overall in three weeks, in Nashville. Will the rumours that the pick is available create another coup?
In a gaggle
– 30 years already…
30 years of the Stanley Cup | The Demers effect https://t.co/U61NcszdOv
– La Presse Sports (@LaPresse_Sports) June 9, 2023
– Who are the Mooseheads’ owners?
I took the opportunity of the #FinaleLHJMQ to chat with the Mooseheads’ new owners, Sam and Peter Simon.
Who are the Americans who bought the Moose? https://t.co/kSuACyLehM
– Mikaël Lalancette (@MikLalancette) June 9, 2023
– Interesting.
Friedman on NHL Network talking teams that could be on DeBrincat’s list: “I think one of them is Detroit, he’s from the area, I don’t think that’s going to surprise anyone, I think it’s possible the two teams in the final could be on his list too”
– NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) June 9, 2023
– Ducks won’t take over management of last year’s Evgenii Dadonov deal. [RDT]
– Yes, small players are hot.
Jonathan Marchessault on the influence of Marty St. Louis.
👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/06JjVIaGZR
– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) June 9, 2023