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Top Remaining Unrestricted Free Agent The New Jersey Devils Should Target

Introduction

After a few early moves, general manager Tom Fitzgerald has been eerily quiet. The market as a whole has settled down as well. However, despite this, there still remains quality unrestricted free agents on the market. Additionally, the Devils still have a few glaring holes the team must address.

Projected Devils’ Depth Chart

Forwards

• Bratt/Hischier/Gusev
• Johnsson*/Hughes/Palmieri
• Boqvist/Zajac/X
• Wood/Zacha/X

Defenseman

• Murray*/Severson
• Butcher/Subban
• Smith/X

Goalies

• Blackwood
• Crawford*

Per the projected New Jersey Devils’ depth chart above, it seems it would be in general manager Tom Fitzgerald’s best interest if he signed at least one bottom-pairing defenseman and a depth forward, or two. Specifically, one(s) that can play the right side. With this in mind, let’s look at what options still litter the free-agent market. 

Dominik Kahun

Dominik Kahun is someone that I mentioned in my original New Jersey Devils’ free-agent preview here. He was a surprise non-tender by the Buffalo Sabres. So, he hit the open market younger than most unrestricted free agents at age 25. This alone fits what general manager Tom Fitzgerald is looking for. 

Further analysis into Kahun’s statistics paints an even more confusing picture as to why he was not qualified. In his first two NHL season’s Kahun registered 37 points and a plus-10 rating in 82 games on a bad Chicago Blackhawks team. This while only playing 14 minutes a night. This season, Kahun played only 56 games split between Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He tallied 31 points while only playing 13 minutes a night. Over an 82-game season, this is a 45-point pace while playing an extremely limited amount of ice time.

Kahun’s points per 60 of 2.5 ranked 78^th in the NHL, among those with a total of 50 minutes or more of ice time last season. This number was greater than the likes of Gabriel Landeskog, Claude Giroux, and Kyle Palmieri. 

Additionally, Kahun is no slouch defensively. His underlying Expected Goals Against per 60 (xGA/60) and Corsi Against per 60 (CA/60) are both above league average. Each are great measures of how Kahun’s team does when he is on the ice in suppressing opponents’ attempts, both the quantity and quality. This is something other young, former restricted free agents in Anthony Duclair and Andreas Athanasiou struggle with. And the main reason those two are not on this list.

A depth point-producer, with the age/potential of Kahun fits what the Devils are looking for perfectly. Although a presumed hot commodity, Dominik Kahun should be at the top of general manager Tom Fitzgerald’s list.

Josh Leivo

Josh Leivo is a name I have also had my eyes on since the beginning of the free-agency period. He is not a household or flashy name, but he gets the job done whenever he gets the chance.

The 27-year old, right-shot has spent his career split between Toronto and Vancouver. He has never really played a regular role as the most games he played in a season was 76 back in 2018-19. However, as mentioned, when he does play, he does well.

During that 76 games season, Leivo registered 24 points (14 goals, 10 assists) while only playing 14 minutes a night. He split that season between Toronto and Vancouver after being dealt midway through the season. This season, despite only playing 36 games, Leivo improved by totaling 19 points. Over an 82-game season, this is a 43-point pace. For reference, only Kyle Palmieri, Nikita Gusev, and Nico Hischier had a higher scoring rate than that for the Devils this season.

Analytically, Leivo is strong. Per the Regularized Adjusted Plus-Minus (RAPM) chart above, Leivo is well above league average in the two main Corsi statistic areas. As well as above average in each Expected Goals statistics. In simpler terms, when on the ice, Leivo’s teams are generating quality and quantity of chances, and also doing a good job of suppressing their opponents in this area. 

Tim Heed

Tim Heed, like Leivo, has not been given established ice time. However, when he has played, he has shown to be a formidable borderline defense-first, bottom-pairing asset. The 29-year old is right-handed and has yet to play more than 38 games in a season. His point production has been surprisingly decent. Over an 82-game pace, Heed is a career 23-point scorer and was on pace to score 30-plus points in two previous seasons. 

Analytically, Heed’s defensive game checks out well. Per the RAPM above, Heed’s above league average when it comes to xGA/60 and CA/60. He is not over-reliant on hits or shot-blocking but seems to be a puck-mover that can tally the occasional point while being sound in his own end. 

The other above chart I included demonstrates Heed’s ability to exit the zone successfully. He ranks in the 88th percentile of the NHL in the number of exits per 60 and in the 87th percentile of the NHL in the successfulness of his exits. He is also a stout defender when it comes to defending opponent entry. As you can see above.

Given Heed is a right-handed defenseman it seems he would be a solid complement to Ty Smith in what will most likely be the other half of the Devils’ third defensive pairing come next season. Heed would also only require the league minimum in being signed.

Worth mentioning, Tim Heed signed a contract with the HC Lugano of the Swiss NLA. The deal is reportedly set to expire on November 15th, so a return to the NHL is likely.

Jan Rutta

Jan Rutta is another player that has yet to get his fair shot with ice time. In his three-year career, he has played 127 games between the Blackhawks and Lightning. The right-handed defenseman has size as he is listed at six-foot-three, 200 pounds.

Rutta’s point production throughout his career is not all that impressive. Other traditional statistics such as hits and blocked shots are also underwhelming. What caught my eye about Rutta is his analytics. The above RAPM chart shows why I make this claim. He contributes offensively in terms of shot attempts nad quality and seems to suppress them well defensively. 

The impressive thing about Rutta is he was one of the few bright spots on an extremely underwhelming Blackhawks’ defensive core for parts of two seasons. To the surprise of nobody, this type of play continued once with Tampa Bay. The 29-year old would be a solid depth signing for New Jersey and like Heed, would cost next to nothing.

Slater Koekkoek

Slater Koekkoek was another casualty of the unique financial situation surrounding the NHL. As he was not qualified by the Chicago Blackhawks. The left-handed defenseman brings size, as he is listed at six-foot-two and 193 pounds. He also checks off the “age box,” as he is only 26-years old. 

Over his six-year NHL career, Koekkoek has played 149 games with the Lightning and Blackhawks. His point production is nothing worth mentioning, but it seems he does do a decent job shot-blocking. As a few times in his career, he was on pace to block well over 100 shots. 

Koekkoek takes the designation “analytic darling” to a whole different level. The RAPM above shows exactly what I mean. Again, what this chart is showing is that Koekkoek’s team, when he is on the ice excels at generating both high quality and quantity of shot attempts and also does this at the other end of the ice.

Koekkoek gives the Devils’ both the youth and size the team is looking for in adding talent. He also gives the team the option to allow Ty Smith to play the left-side which he did in juniors. He is certainly someone that general manager Tom Fitzgerald may want to keep his eyes on.

Honorable Mentions:

• Connor Sheary – 28-year old, LW, Pittsburgh
• Michael Frolik – 32-year old, RW, Buffalo
• Ben Hutton – 27-year old, LHD, Vancouver
• Mark Pysyk – 28-year old, RHD, Florida

The post Top Remaining Unrestricted Free Agent The New Jersey Devils Should Target appeared first on Devils Army Blog.

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Ryan Murray: A Solid Defensive Defenseman When Healthy

Introduction

After a quiet draft day in terms of trades, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald made a splash late Thursday evening. The Devils announced they traded a 2021 fifth-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Ryan Murray. You can learn about the newest Devils’ defenseman below.

TRADE ALERT! Making moves on the eve of free agency!

We have acquired defenseman Ryan Murray from Columbus in exchange for our 2021 fifth-round pick. #WeAreOne | @investorsbank pic.twitter.com/HBkesi2moU

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 9, 2020

Profile

Ryan Murray is a former second-overall pick by the Columbus Blue Jackets. He is only 27-years old and is listed at six-foot-one and 205 pounds. The left-handed defenseman has one more year left at $4,500,000 on his contract. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent at year’s end.

The issue with Ryan Murray has not been his play, but rather his ability to stay healthy. In his seven-year career, he has only played 82 games once, and more than 55 only four times.

The Statistics

Ryan Murray’s point production has not been how Columbus hoped after drafting him second overall. Over an 82-game season, his career average computes to around 26 points per year. Which in the end is fine, given how he is more relied on for his stout defense.

To describe his defensive game, it is better to use charts and data. The above chart shows that Murray is solid when it comes to suppressing opponent shot quantities (Corsi Against per 60) and shot quality (Expected Goals Against per 60). The bottom chart shows that Murray is in the 95th percentile of NHL players in terms of even-strength defense and the 87th percentile in Expected Goals Against. Another extremely promising statistic from this chart is his penalty killing in the 92nd percentile of the NHL. That is terrific. 

Ryan Murray has a total Goals Above Replacement (GAR) of 17.7 in only 127 games (.139 ratio). In comparison, Devils’ Damon Severson has a GAR of 3.5 in 230 games, unrestricted free agent T.J. Brodie a GAR of 18.9 in 216 games (.088 ratio), and unrestricted free agent Tyson Barrie a GAR of 11.6 in 216 games (.053 ratio). All these statistics are over a three-season period.

Lastly, Ryan Murray excels in both entries and exits. This is something the Devils as a team have struggled with in the past. Specifically, Murray will help with exiting the team’s own zone as he is in the league’s 58th percentile in this area. Also, according to the above chart, Murray excels at limiting opponents from entering his team’s zone. This is demonstrated by him being in the league’s 68th percentile of controlled entries allowed. This is a skill you want to have in every defenseman.

The Verdict

Job well done, general manager Tom Fitzgerald. Ryan Murray is a solid, top-four defensive defenseman who can eat 21-plus minutes a night. Most importantly, Murray is a left-handed defenseman. One of the Devils’ biggest needs entering the offseason was a top-four, left-handed defenseman. You can see an updated depth chart of the predicted Devils’ defense core below:

• Murray/Severson
• Butcher/Subban
• Smith/TBD

The only issue that can arise from this trade is the health of Ryan Murray. His issues in this area are well-documented and should not be taken with a grain of salt.

For the sake of the Columbus Blue Jackets, I am assuming the reason why a fifth-round pick was all that was needed to get this deal done was to shed some cap space and make room for a roster player who is a bit healthier. All things considered, trading only a 5th round pick for Murray was an absolutely terrific move by General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

The post Ryan Murray: A Solid Defensive Defenseman When Healthy appeared first on Devils Army Blog.