NEWARK, N.J. — Being an unrestricted free agent without arbitration rights,
The Devils instead gave the 23-year-old Severson a vote of confidence, signing him to a six-year, $25 million contract that will keep him with the team through the 2022-23 season.
"Damon brings an important dimension to our hockey club and he is a young
Severson will earn $2.5 million this season and his salary will escalate to $5.1 million in the final year of the contract. He set career highs with 28 assists and 31 points in 80 regular-season games last season, leading all New Jersey
It is expected that Severson will get a chance to pair with Andy Greene on the Devils' top defensive unit.
Severson had hoped that the contract would be settled before the start of training camp, but this was pushing it.
"I just didn't want to be the type of guy that missed training camp or took some time skating away from the team," he said in a conference call. "I wanted to be here with the guys in camp preparing the same way as everybody else."
Severson said he was open to signing a contract to bridge a couple of years or getting a long-term one.
"With the long-term deal I am happy to be here," Severson said. "I am comfortable now and I guess just forward to what is to come here with all the moves we made in the
The Devils have not made the playoffs since going to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012. They drafted Nico Hischier with the first pick overall in the NHL draft in June, signed veteran free-agent
"You can tell we want to turn the page here and get this going in the right direction," Severson said.
___
For more AP NHL coverage: https://apnews.com/tag/NHLhockey
Tom Canavan, The Associated Press