Devils extend Severson for 6 years
Former Rocket cashes in with $25-million contract
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Being a restricted free agent without arbitration rights, Damon Severson was hoping to get contract from the New Jersey Devils that would carry him over for a couple of years.
The Devils instead gave the 23-year-old Severson a vote of confidence, signing the budding defenceman 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 defenceman that we are excited to work with,” general manager Ray Shero said Monday in announcing the deal that gets Severson signed in time for the opening of training camp this week. “This deal shows our ownership’s commitment in what we continue to build here.”
Severson will earn $2.5 million this season and his salary will escalate to $5.1 million in the final year of the contract.
Severson set career highs with 28 assists and 31 points in 80 regular-season games last season, leading all New Jersey defencemen in assists and points.
It is expected that Severson will get a chance to pair with Andy Greene on the Devils’ top defensive unit.
Severson, who played junior for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets, 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. “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’m comfortable now and just looking forward to what is to come here with all the moves we made in the off-season. I am very happy to get it done. Long term in New Jersey was what the main goal was.”
The Devils have not made the playoffs since going to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012. They drafted Nico Hischier with the first overall pick in the NHL draft in June, signed veteran free-agent centre Brian Boyle and defenceman and Hobey Baker Award winner Will Butcher, and also acquired left wing Marcus Johansson from Washington.
“You can tell we want to turn the page here and get this going in the right direction,” Severson said.
From Melville, Sask., Severson spent four seasons with the Rockets from 2010-2014. He was among the best defencemen in the WHL in his final two campaigns with Kelowna, recording 52 points (10 goals) and then 61 points (15 goals) in just 64 games.
Severson was a late-bloomer, a ninth-round pick (192nd overall) for the Rockets in the 2009 bantam draft. The Devils selected Severson in the second round (60th overall) in 2012.
Listed at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, Severson also won a bronze medal with Canada at the under-18 world championship in 2012 and played in the CHL Top Prospects Game.