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New York Islanders Metropolitan Division Free Agency Power Rankings

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 09: Leo Komarov #47 of the New York Islanders backs into Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at the Barclays Center on February 09, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - FEBRUARY 09: Leo Komarov #47 of the New York Islanders backs into Semyon Varlamov #1 of the Colorado Avalanche during the second period at the Barclays Center on February 09, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Nashville Predators looks on during the pre-skate ahead of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 12, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 12: Wayne Simmonds #17 of the Nashville Predators looks on during the pre-skate ahead of a game against the Anaheim Ducks at Honda Center on March 12, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /

New Jersey Devils

Ins: Wayne Simmonds
Outs: Kurtis Gabriel, Nick Lappin

The New Jersey Devils are another team that brought in way more than they lost.

Ray Shero was able to add power forward Wayne Simmonds to his roster on a single year $5 million deal. just like the Rangers, he ‘lost’ two players from the fringes of his roster in Kurtis Gabriel and Nick Lappin.

Simmonds clearly had a down year last season. He scored only 17 goals between the Philadelphia Flyers and the Nashville Predators. But Simmonds has scored 24 or more goals in each of his previous five seasons before 2018-19. He averaged 14 goals on the power play in that same five-year span.

There’s an argument to be made that Simmonds is a player on the decline and may not see those returns again. He’s 30 years old, turning 31 in August. The first thing to go when players get up there in age is goals. That’s what Wayne Simmonds does best, he typically scores more than he assists on.

But with a single year deal, Simmonds bet on himself. He bet that last season wasn’t a sign that his age was catching up to him. He has something to prove this season. So does the entire Devils franchise as a matter of fact.

The Devils got a player to fit right into the mentality of the team, on a good deal, and who gives them something to just don’t have. It’s not a sure-fire ‘win’ like the Rangers, but Simmonds is a positive addition to the Devils.

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