According to a team release, the New Jersey Devils have re-signed RFA Sergey Kalinin to a one-year deal. The deal will see Kalinin earn $800K next season, his second in the NHL.
After coming over from the KHL last season, Kalinin put up eight goals and 15 points in 78 games, playing mainly bottom six minutes, with the odd powerplay and top line shift. If Kalinin can continue to find chemistry with Kyle Palmieri, he might find himself riding shotgun to Taylor Hall and what would be an elite combo. Otherwise, the 25-year old will continue to provide a big body on the powerplay, with his 6’3″ frame helping to remove the puck from defenders down low.
For the Devils, it’s their 12th signing since July 1st as GM Ray Shero is not waiting around to get his RFAs under contract. With Kalinin earning just $800K, it is another reasonable cap hit for their bottom-six, and leaves them with over $15MM in cap space with Palmieri and Reid Boucher still to sign.