The 2013 NJ Devils & Free Agency Frenzy Open Post

Noon today is when unrestricted free agents can sign new contracts with teams. Noon today is when the past two days of teams selling their organization on a player can come to fruition or turn out to be a waste of time. Noon today is when we will begin to see see how teams will fill their rosters for the 2013-14 season. Noon today is when we can start lamenting our opponents getting better or laughing as they make a bad decision. Noon today is when we can allow ourselves to feel good about the team we all love, the New Jersey Devils. Noon today is when a lot of money will start being given out, the news come in seconds, and the impact lasts for years. Today is July 5 and this is Free Agency Frenzy. Also known as Free Agent Frenzy. Here's the unofficial theme song:

The New Jersey Devils currently have $12,862,500 in cap space according to CapGeek as of 9:30 PM EST on July 4. They have 19 players signed with qualified restricted free agents Adam Henrique and Jacob Josefson still due for new contracts. That's two goaltenders, seven defensemen, and ten forwards which include Krys Barch and Mattias Tedenby. While Henrique and Josefson should give them twelve forwards, the Devils could use another NHL caliber winger or two or possibly three. With David Clarkson looking like he's not coming back and hearing offers from other teams, that would be a significant hole to fill. How will we ever face life without him?

Additionally, Marek Zidlicky, Steve Sullivan, Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt D`Agostini (not qualified so he's now a UFA), and Tom Kostopolous will also be free to sign with anyone else. The Devils have indicated that they want to bring back Zidlicky. Sullivan may be complementing retirement and I can't tell you what's up with the other three. The Devils did re-sign Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, and Peter Harrold within the past week so they will be Devils in the coming season. Depending on how much the Devils want to allocate for Henrique's and Josefson's contracts plus how much they want to spend, the Devils may have to stretch their cap to include Zidlicky and other forwards. They may not be able to get a "big signing," but we'll see. The fun (or horror) of Free Agency Frenzy comes with the unexpected. And if there's anyone who's good at being unexpected, it's Lou Lamoriello.

Please use the comments in this post to discuss everything that's happening in free agency today as well as the Devils. Please, please, please do not share unconfirmed rumors and "news" from false sources like fake Twitter accounts, Eklund's Hockeybuzz, "insiderr," a "rumor breaker," etc. There's going to be a lot going on, especially after noon. It is a frenzy, after all. So there's no need to muddy the waters of actual news. So for the benefit of everyone, link to legit sources and don't make things up. Use the comments to discuss everything that's going on today. Thank you for reading and enjoy the 2013 FAF.