Free Agent Decisions I FEATURE

July 28 is a date on the calendar Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald has had circled. It will mark the opening of the 2021 free agency season. And while making additions with new players is always a coveted part of the franchise-building process, there remains plenty of work to be done with the players that are currently within the Devils organization until then. The next few weeks will be an important decision-making time, that began with locking up
restricted free agent Nathan Bastian last week
to a two-year deal.
Bastian had been a restricted free agent and the team had the flexibility to advance a one-year qualifying offer to retain his rights or negotiate a longer deal - the Devils opted for the latter.
Signing Bastian was just the first step
in tackling a number of restricted free agents with the club. Seven forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders remain on the Devils RFA list that the team must consider signing, qualifying or letting walk. Should the team choose to tender a qualifying offer to eligible players, that will give the team time to negotiate new deals, without losing the rights to the player.

FORWARDS
Yegor Sharangovich
Janne Kuokkanen
Michael McLeod
Nick Merkley
Marian Studenic
AJ Greer
Brandon Gignac
DEFENSEMEN
Jonas Siegenthaler
Colby Sissons
Colton White
David Quenneville
GOALTENDERS
Evan Cormier
Giles Senn
In terms of unrestricted free agents, where players are able to explore any opportunity with any NHL franchise beginning on July 28, the Devils once again will have tough decisions to make. These players will have the ability to re-sign with New Jersey, if the club offers a contract, or test their worth on the free market. Here is a look at the Devils unrestricted free agents…
Scott Wedgewood, G
2020-21 Season: 16GP, 3-8-3, 3.11 GAA, .900%
The Skinny: Wedgewood entered training camp as the third goaltender on the Devils' depth chart and ended the season as the club's backup. The sudden retirement of Corey Crawford and the COVID-19 diagnosis to Mackenzie Blackwood allowed Wedgewood to play his first NHL game since Feb. 13, 2018. In his second game of the season he posted a 28-save shutout over the New York Islanders. And perhaps his best performance was a 40-save blanking of Boston. Has the journeyman goaltender found a home in New Jersey?
Wedgewood: "I was waiting for another door to open up and I got the opportunity. I gave it everything I had all year, practice or game. I put my best foot forward every day. … I had a fun year, a great group. Obviously, when you're in the National Hockey League it's a dream come true. I was happy to be here, and I'm trying to make my case to be No. 2, make that next step and be here full time."

Aaron Dell, G
2020-21 Season: 7GP, 1-5, 4.14 GAA, .857%
The Skinny: With the retirement of Crawford, the Devils were looking to add some goaltending depth. They did so by claiming Dell off waivers from Toronto prior to the start of the season. Dell was relegated to mostly handling the third goaltender duties, spotting in on occasion and working in practice. It was a difficult season for all NHL "third" goaltenders, who normally would be playing in the AHL. This season there was a requirement to always have three goaltenders on the NHL roster (regular roster or taxi squad), and Dell handled his role with professionalism, despite the lack of playing time which all players crave. Unlikely to have a taxi squad scenario next season, Devils management will have to decide how it will handle the goaltending situation for the upcoming year.
GM Tom Fitzgerald: "I do think we have to reassess our goaltending and see where we're at, and decide which way we want to go, whether with a 1a-1b combo or a true No. 2 where Mackenzie is playing 70/30."
Ryan Murray, D
2020-21 Season: 48GP, 14A, 14PTS, +3
The Skinny: The Devils traded for Murray prior to the season after he played the first seven years of his NHL career in Columbus. The 27-year-old was expected to add some depth and experience to New Jersey's blue line. Murray, 6-foot-1, 206 pounds, had a strong showing, becoming a regular in the lineup and enjoying one of his healthiest years to date.
Murray: "It's a great group of guys here. I really enjoyed this season. It's such a great group here. The team here is really close, all the guys are really close. It was a great season. Moving forward, we'll see what happens this summer."

Matt Tennyson, D
2020-21 Season: 21GP, 1G, 2A, 3PTS, E; Binghamton, AHL, 5GP, 2A, 2PTS, E
The Skinny: Tennyson has been the consummate pro, whether in New Jersey or with the AHL club. He's proved to be a serviceable defenseman, capable of stepping in and contributing when called upon. The team really needed him down the stretch with injuries and COVID-19 infections on the backend, and he was up to the task. Tennyson also handled himself well with a good showing at the World Championship, earning a bronze medal with Team USA.
Tennyson: "With the contract stuff, that's out of my control. I let my agents deal with that. That's why you pay them. I just worry about what I can control and go have fun. … Overall, I think it's been good. I think I've been a good guy to have in the room and I just try to bring my best game every day."

Connor Carrick, D
2020-21 Season: 11GP, 1G, 1A, 2PTS, -2; Binghamton, AHL, 13GP, 6A, 6PTS, -6
The Skinny: Carrick's story is similar to that of Tennyson, though in a smaller sample size. He saw limited action in New Jersey, but chipped in when the team needed him, particularly down the stretch. He was the ultimate pro, helping mentor the younger prospects on the AHL team, and made the most of his opportunities in the NHL when he could.
Carrick: "Management has a lot of decisions ahead of themselves. I think it's no secret how the New Jersey Devils have positioned themselves in terms of a rebuild. I've been a part of that type of effort successfully in the past. You have to take how you build your culture and a winning group very seriously. I had been a part of that in Toronto for example. I also understand the position that I was in for a lot of this year was not by accident. The leaders of the organization acted about my play on purpose."
Other unrestricted free agents for the Devils are forwards Ben Street, Mason Jobst and Brett Seney and defenseman Josh Jacobs. They saw the majority, if not all, of their time in the AHL.