Devils sign backup Scott Wedgewood to one-year deal as they look to improve this offseason
Anthony Scultore
|
The New Jersey Devils are trying to take the next steps in their rebuild. Rumors continue to circle around the team that GM Tom Fitzgerald is looking to add some win-now pieces to their lineup.
Yesterday, he focused on some of the players they have and re-signed backup goalkeeper Scott Wedgewood to a one-year, two-way contract.
Devils sign Scott Wedgewood
According to the club, Wedgewood’s deal is worth $825,000 at the NHL level and $375,000 in the American Hockey League.
The 28-year-old Wedgewood went 3-8-3 with a 3.11 goals-against average and .900 save percentage in 16 games (15 starts) last season. He recorded two shutouts.
Wedgewood has played in 40 NHL games (36 starts) in two stints with the Devils (2015-16 season) and one with the Arizona Coyotes (2017-18). He is 10-18-8 with four shutouts, a 3.07 GAA and .902 save percentage.
Prior to last season, Wedgewood spent back-to-back campaigns in the AHL, playing for the Rochester Americans in 2018-19 and the Syracuse Crunch in 2019-20.
NJ Devils offseason plans
Tom Fitzgerald is in the market for a young NHL defenseman. Elliotte Friedman in a recent 31 Thoughts dropped this nugget. “I think New Jersey would consider moving the fourth-overall selection for a good, young defenseman.”
One defenseman that NJ has been linked to is Rasmus Ristolainen.
During his exit interview on breakup day, Ristolainen said he was open to a trade. He has one more year left on his contract which comes with an AAV of $5.4 million. It’s likely that Adams is aware that Ristolainen may be looking to hit free agency in 2022 so it would be best to get assets for him now.
The 26 year-old would be a welcome addition to the Devils lineup, but the 4th overall selection is an overpay. If Buffalo is willing to flip another first round pick, say the Rangers 15th overall should they trade Jack Eichel there it could make sense.
–Field Level Media contributed to this article