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A Quiet Free Agency, Kevin Bahl and the 3rd RW Possibilities |
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A Quiet Free Agency, Kevin Bahl and the 3rd RW Possibilities
Good morning Devils fans. After an active day 1, Tom Fitzgerald and the Devils have been relatively quiet since. While other teams have been paying, or overpaying based on your perspective, to build their roster, it seems that the Devils may be done building. As of this morning, NJ only has $5,607,500 in left over cap to finish their team building over the offseason.
One piece that is still up in the air is D Kevin Bahl. The defenseman did well for himself last year, shutting down in the defensive zone and using his physical frame to punish threats and isolate rushing skaters. In my opinion, he’s a solid option for the 3rd line D-man and, based on his age, he’s got serious potential. Fitzgerald should bring Bahl back for the right price. His previous cap hit was $795K, which means that his qualifying offer would have been around $835K. Most likely, Bahl remaining an RFA at this point means that both parties are still trying to negotiate a semi-long term contract, maybe for 3-4 years, which would carry Bahl to free agency around 27.
If a contract is not hashed out soon, another team could enter this situation with an offer sheet for Bahl’s rights. In that case, nearly every original team would match that offer. Should this be the case, I believe the Devils should match any offer up to $1.5M. Above that number would be overpaying who Kevin Bahl is now in hopes of what he could become. If this is what comes to fruition, that leaves NJ with roughly $4.1M to play with while keeping the vast majority of last year’s core together.
If Bahl gets resigned, then here’s what I would run:
Bratt - J. Hughes - Mercer
Toffoli - Hischier - Meier
Palat - Haula - Holtz/Clarke/Foote/Free Agent?
Lazar - Mcleod - Bastian
Sieganthaler - Hamilton
L. Hughes - Marino
Bahl (pending contract/offer sheet) - Miller
Schmid
Vanacek
The reason there’s so much clutter around the 3rd RW is because that’s the biggest question mark for me on offense. There are so many options and possibilities, with benefits and drawbacks to both. So, who could play in that position? Here are some scenarios:
Scenario 1 - Alexander Holtz
The most obvious choice would be to give this slot to the most highly valued prospect. Given that Holtz was selected 7th overall in 2020, there is an established interest to see what he can do in a full NHL season. In 66 AHL games, he’s tallied up a record of 32G-30A-62P, showing that he’s transitioned well from Sweden to the American minor league side. The question is, can Holtz take his AHL success and translate it into big league gold? His limited time in the NHL hasn’t been something to write home about, putting 6 points in 28 games. If we give him a full season or two at the NHL and he still struggles, then we can discuss a possible trade that could work for both parties.
Benefits: Giving a high end prospect a proper “prove yourself” season
Drawbacks: May not be fully NHL ready
Scenario 2 - Graeme Clarke
Following a decent OHL season, Clarke was drafted in the 3rd round, 80th overall, in 2019. Since then, he’s shown consistent growth in the AHL, putting up a total of 25G-33A-58P in 68 games played last season. With Reilly Walsh traded away, Clarke had a 20 point lead over any player last season in Utica. He’s earned a call up in my opinion to the development camp, which could be a great opportunity to see how he compares to other prospects and how he would play with the roster players. While his physical size at 5’11” with 175 lbs may not scream NHL ready, his hockey sense and finishing can make up for it.
Benefits: Talented and hardworking player who earned it based on AHL performance.
Drawbacks: May struggle to adapt physically to the NHL
Scenario 3 - Nolan Foote
Coming over as part of the Blake Coleman trade, Nolan Foot has carved a niche for himself as a talented two-way forward who can put up decent numbers but also use physicality to make the neutral and D zone a dangerous place for an opposing player. His record of 20G-17A-37P in 55 games may not impress as much as Holtz or Clarke. However, he may slot in better at the grittier 3rd line based on his frame (6’3”, 195 lbs) compared to Clarke or Holtz, who may be better suited for the 2nd line. Given how packed in our top 6 is, Foote may have the better chance.
Benefits: More physical than in house competition
Drawbacks: Hasn’t produced as much as Holtz or Clarke
Scenario 4 - UFA RW Oskar Sundqvist
Assuming we can’t find a viable 3rd RW in our system, what if we made a move for someone on the market? This is not the most cost effective option, I’ll admit. But we could find someone as a bridge player until Holtz/Clarke/Foote are ready. With that in mind, Oskar Sundqvist is an interesting option. A journeyman who played for Pittsburg, St. Louis, Detroit, and Minnesota, he’s shown himself to be a capable bottom 6 forward, putting together a total of 10G-18A-28P in 67 GP between the Red Wings and Wild last season. Assuming we could get him at a discount of $2M compared to his most recent cap hit of $2.75M, Sundqvist could end up being an affordable stop gap. Additionally, he can also produce in the playoffs. During the 2019 Blues Stanley Cup run, he went 4G-5A-9P in 25 playoff games. That may not be huge, but for a bottom 6 forward, that’s nothing to scoff at.
Benefits: Proven NHL veteran with cup experience
Drawbacks: Most expensive option, takes spot of highly valued prospects
What are your thoughts? What should the Bahl offer be? Do you prefer to keep this spot for someone in house or look to the free agent market for the solution?
Raise Hell,
-Josh Biringer
New Jersey Devils Blogger • 
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