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Zacha Re-Signs

Restricted free agent Pavel Zacha has been brought back into the fold one day after Ray Shero was told by Zacha’s agent that the center could sign in the KHL.

Corey Masisak reported on Twitter yesterday that Zacha’s agent had told Shero his client would possibly sign in the Russian league if a deal could not get done.

Today the Devils announced that he has signed a three-year deal (running through 2021-22) with an annual average value of $2,250,000. That breaks down to $1,750,000 in 2019-20, $2,000,000 in 2020-21 and $3,000,000 in 2021-22 for a total of $6.75 million total.

Shero said in the press release that the team was “happy to have finalized this three-year agreement as Pavel is an important part of our team. He has established himself as someone who can play in any situation and we are looking forward to his continued growth as a player.”

Zacha had a career-high 13 goals last year and equaled his career-high point total with 25 according to the press release. Last year also saw him with a three-game goal scoring streak (from November 17 to 21, 2018) where he notched four. He also played in his 200th NHL game on April 4, 2019 at the Hurricanes.

The Brno, Czech Republic native who will turn 23 on April 6, 2020 was the Devils’ first round pick (sixth overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft.

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Devils Re-Sign Butcher to Three-Year Contract

The Devils continued to build their team going forward as they have today re-signed defenseman Will Butcher to a three-year contract worth $11.19 million ($3.73 million annually). Butcher, a restricted free agent, will avoid a salary arbitration hearing that was scheduled for Friday, according to the Devils’ press release on the subject.

Butcher, 24, had 30 points last year, including four goals and 26 assists in 78 games played. That likely played into the contract numbers.

Butcher originally signed a two-year entry level contract worth $925,000 annually after deciding to sign with the Devils on August 27, 2917 according to the press release. He was originally drafted in the fifth round (123rd overall) by the Colorado Avalanche in 2013 but declined to sign with them following four years at the University of Denver.

While at the University of Denver, he won the 2017 Hobey Baker Award “as the top player in NCAA Division I men’s hockey.” He also led the Pioneers to a National Championship also in 2017.

His career totals in the NHL thus far read: 74 points (nine goals and 65 assists) over 159 games (regular season) and four points (a goal and three assists) over just five playoff games all for the Devils.

According to the Devils’ PR Department’s press release, in his rookie year, Butcher “set a franchise record for points in a Devils’/NHL debut with 3A (3PTS) in the team’s home opener October 7 vs. Colorado.” He also was the “first rookie defenseman in NHL history to record at least 8A in his first 3GP of an NHL career.” In addition, Butcher was “the first Devil in team history to reach 20PTS in first 30 NHL games.” He led Devils’ defensemen in scoring with 44 points (five goals and 39 assists) in his rookie year, ending up fourth in the team in scoring overall. The Sun Prairie, Wisconsin native was also named to the NHL’s All-Rookie Team following the conclusion of his rookie year in 2017-18.