Just days after acquiring Ivan Provorov from the Philadelphia Flyers, the Columbus Blue Jackets continue to bolster the blue line. This time they cash in on the UFA rights of Damon Severson. Going the other way to the New Jersey Devils is the Calgary Flames’ third-round draft pick. After all is said and done, a Damon Severson contract is official.
The #CBJ are acquiring UFA RD Damon Severson in sign & trade with #NJDevils on an 8 year $6.25M Cap Hit Deal
Severson was only eligible for an 8th year if he signed the contract with NJD
1st on trade @reporterchris
Rep’d by Jason Davidson @tcnewsfeedhttps://t.co/UQ5IUOFvWS
— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) June 9, 2023
Damon Severson Traded to Columbus
Here is what the Damon Severson contract looks like. Given Severson is a pending UFA, the Devils signed him to an 8-year, $6.25 million AAV contract before the trade. If Columbus signed the deal, they could only get Severson for seven years maximum.
Severson appears as an enticing asset for Columbus. The 28-year-old has experienced his highs and lows throughout his 647-game tenure in New Jersey. Severson tallied 58 goals and 205 assists for 263 points in that time frame.
Similar to Provorov’s game, Severson is a high-risk, high-reward defenceman. He’s certainly not afraid to take chances at his blue line and pinch on the opposing wingers.
Damon is in the upper echelon of defencemen when it comes to the transition game. An elite puck-mover according to all-three-zone’s micro-stats, a project tracked by none other than Corey Sznajder.
What makes Severson elite at this is his skating ability with his edges. He’s often about to use his feet to get out of trouble. Not only is he frequently retrieving pucks, but he’s also turning them into exits with full possession.
What This Means For Columbus
Severson has a fantastic opportunity to shine on a shallow Blue Jacket’s back end. His offensive skills, two-way ability, and transition game form the mold for the NHL’s modern-day defenceman. It’s a shame he was sheltered by the Devils in his final season with the organization.
With more opportunity on the rise and possibly power-play minutes, Severson can thrive with the Blue Jackets. However, Ivan Provorov‘s upside offers similar rewards. It’ll be interesting to see Mike Babcock’s plan for the two new names in town.
What This Means For New Jersey
The Devils get a solid return for a pending UFA. The Devils have an abundance of players to sign this off-season. Some of those names include Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Erik Haula. With Luke Hughes showing great potential in his young career, it didn’t make sense to continue to shelter the 28-year-old Severson.
Main Photo: Danny Wild-USA TODAY Sports
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