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Report: New Jersey Devils interested in Jakob Lilja |
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Following a very disappointing 2018-19 campaign, New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero made it no secret the team's top priority is bringing in more talent.
While Shero can't yet add anyone from the NHL's pool of players, nothing is stopping him from going overseas and dipping his toes into the international free agent waters.
He is in the process of doing just that, as the Devils are reportedly after Djurgardens forward Jakob Lilja.
Excerpt from HockeyNews.se (translated via google):
NHL club New Jersey now shows a concrete interest in Djurgårds forward, reportedly to HockeyNews.se.
He has a contract with Djurgården for another season, but the interest from the NHL clubs has grown stronger.
Reportedly, New Jersey has initiated a contact to try to recruit Jakob Lilja for next season.
Lilja led his team in scoring with 37 points in 52 games. The roster does feature some prominent prospects in Emil Bemstrom (CBJ), Marcus Davidsson (BUF), and Jonathan Davidsson (OTT), as well as ex-NHLers like Jacob Josefson(!) and Nicklas Bergfors(!!) so it's not as if it's devoid of talent.
Though 37 points in 52 games is not exactly eye-popping production on first glance, it is more impressive than you think. Only nine players recorded more points than Lilja, and each of them is older than the 25-year-old.
I don't know how much offense will translate to the NHL but it can't hurt to take a chance on Lilja and find out – especially for a team that needs all the talent, and depth, it can get.
We'll see if anything comes of these rumors.
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