2019 AHL Free Agency: Binghamton Devils Team Needs
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BINGHAMTON -- It was another season of struggles for the Binghamton Devils, who found themselves at the bottom of the Eastern Conference to end of the 2018-19 regular season, after finishing 28-41-7-0 and 28 points out of a playoff spot.
As the parent Devils bring in more young talent, another overhaul of the current roster is expected for the 2019-20 season.
Under Contract
Forwards: Joey Anderson, Michael McLeod, Fabian Zetterlund, Mikhail Maltsev, Egor Sharangovich, Marian Studenic, Brett Seney, Blake Speers, Nathan Bastian, Brandon Gignac, Adam Helewka, Ludwig Larsson, Nikita Popugaev
Defensemen: Colton White, Colby Sissons, Brian Strait
Goaltenders: Evan Cormier, Gilles Senn
Impending Free Agents
NHL RFA (all received qualifying offers): Brandon Baddock, Josh Jacobs
NHL UFA: Nick Lappin, Eric Tangradi, Blake Pietila, Ryan Murphy, Eric Gryba, Cam Johnson, Eddie Lack
AHL UFA: Ryan Schmelzer, Tariq Hammond, Nick Saracino, Brian Ward, John Edwardh, Alex Krushelnyski
Devils Team Needs in Free Agency
Goaltending: Binghamton enters the offseason with two young goaltenders under contract in Cormier and Senn, a 2017 5 th round draft selection by New Jersey who will be making his North American debut after playing in his native Switzerland. In the past, the parent Devils have brought in a veteran goaltender to serve as a #3 in tandem with a young prospect. Lack was supposed to serve that role last season, but a hip injury derailed that plan. After what happened in New Jersey with Cory Schneider’s injury situation, it may be best to have a veteran netminder come in.
Defensemen: With only three defensemen under contract, and Jacobs receiving a qualifying offer, this is the number one need for Binghamton. The team has already lost both John Ramage and Egor Yakolev to Europe, while rookie Jeremy Davies, who was slated to begin the season in the Southern Tier, was traded to Nashville as part of the P.K. Subban deal. Strait only appeared in 10 games before injuries derailed his season. New Jersey tends to bring in veterans that can move to the NHL as needed—Eric Gryba served that role last season—and will likely do so again in free agency.
Forwards: Most of the Devils’ forwards are set to return, but all are still quite young. With leading scorer Pietila an unrestricted free agent, and All-Star John Quenneville off to Chicago in a draft day trade, Binghamton will need a veteran presence to not only provide offense but guide a young core. Additionally, with last season’s captain Kevin Rooney graduated to the NHL, and other key veterans possibly gone in free agency, a new set of leaders for this team will need to emerge.
