It is never too early to lock up key players on your team a year early. Look what the Colorado Avalanche did with star centre Nathan MacKinnon. The same thing could happen with Toronto Maple Leafs superstar Auston Matthews when he is eligible to begin negotiating. But one team has a key player that has not been signed longer. In today’s NHL Rumours, New Jersey Devils defenseman Damon Severson is due for a contract extension but hasn’t had extension talks yet.
NHL Rumours: Damon Severson Has Not Had Extension Talks
Rumour: Per The Fourth Period, The New Jersey Devils and Damon Severson have not had extension talks.
Damon Severson says contract talks haven’t begun. He’s in the final year of his 6-year deal. #NJDevils
— James Nichols (@JamesNicholsNHL) September 25, 2022
Things are quiet when it comes to Damon Severson. The 28-year-old is in the final year of a six-year contract. He makes the team-friendly $4.6 million per season and has no trade protection. Severson is coming off a year where he set a career-high in assists (35) and points (46.) That make things regarding him an exciting player to watch during trade deadline time.
Why It Has Become Complicated
The Devils have run into a problem, but it is a good problem to have. With the current roster preview, there is a log jam on the right side of the lineup. On the right side of the blue line, the team currently has Dougie Hamilton, Severson, and John Marino. As we all know, the Devils drafted Simon Nemec with the second overall pick, who also is on the right side. The left side, on the other hand, is wide open, but I’m not sure they have him ply his offside.
The acquisition of Marino came with him being locked up for the next five seasons. And with Nemec waiting in the wings, it makes for a challenging situation for Severson.
Final Thoughts
Having the money is not the problem for the Devils, but more importantly, what the game plan is going forward. With the cap rising, it won’t be hard to lock him down. If the Devils are in a playoff spot, do they move Severson at the deadline for assets? Or do they wait and kick the tires once the season gets underway?
With prospects waiting in the wings and the right side locked up for the foreseeable future, it is hard to tell what they do with Severson. He does make the team better, but it is all about the big picture. The longest-tenured New Jersey Devil could be playing in another jersey in the coming future.
