Just when you thought the Devils’ defense couldn’t get any older . . .
Replacing two with one for far less, Lou Lamoriello says reacquiring 37-year-old Tommy Albelin makes his defense better than it was last season.
After losing free agents Sean O’Donnell to the Bruins and Ken Sutton to the Islanders, the Devils yesterday signed Albelin as an unrestricted free agent from Calgary, where they traded him more than five years ago for Phil Housley.
Albelin is believed to have signed a two-year deal worth nearly $1 million per season, while O’Donnell alone signed for $2.5 million a year with Boston. Albelin is said to have turned down an offer from the Flyers that would have added 250G to his annual salary.
“This gives us three solid pairs of defensemen,” Lamoriello said. “I feel our defense is better today than it was last year, and I thought it was pretty good last year.”
The Devils missed out on Eric Weinrich and Jason York in the latest free agent bidding spree, Weinrich going to the Flyers for what is believed to be $9 million over three years, and York landing $6 million over three from Anaheim.
Albelin went 1-19-20 and plus-2 while toiling with Calgary, a rare plus-player for the Flames last year. Drafted 158th in 1983 by Quebec, Albelin was dealt to the Devils for a fourth-rounder in 1988 and spent parts of eight seasons with New Jersey.
The addition of Albelin gives the Devils three 37-year-olds on defense, as he rejoins Scott Stevens and Ken Daneyko.
“Abby is a puck carrier and plays well defensively. And he’s one of the best-conditioned athletes I’ve seen,” Lamoriello said.
The Devil GM said he is not seeking a veteran to replace the 43-goal production vanished with Alexander Mogilny, signed Tuesday by the Maple Leafs.
“We’ll replace Alex’s production from within,” Lamoriello said. “I’m very high on Pierre Dagenais and very high on our younger forwards who have matured.”
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Devils signed 27-year-old Swedish winger Andreas Salomonsson, whom they drafted in the fifth round last month. The 6-0, 185-pounder went 10-12-22 in 48 games in the Swedish league last season.
