The New Jersey Devils have re-upped with defenseman Adam Larsson on a one-year, $900,000 extension, per Swedish news outlet Expressen.
Larsson, the fourth overall pick at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, just wrapped his three-year, $2.775 million entry-level deal that carried an $925,000 annual cap hit. If the reported deal is true, it’s a slight haircut in terms of salary but a positive step in New Jersey keeping the young rearguard in North America.
Update: Confirmed, per NorthJersey.com...If the blog was working right now, I’d write about Adam Larsson re-signing with Devils for one-year, $900,000. One-way deal. Confirmed.
— Tom Gulitti (@TGfireandice) July 1, 2014
Earlier this summer, rumors surfaced that Larsson might be considering a return play in Sweden after three rough years with the Devils. Though they were promptly shot down by both New Jersey and his representation, Larsson has been a disappointment since being the first blueliner off the board in ’11 -- despite a promising rookie campaign in ’11-12, he’s fallen on hard times since and made just 26 appearances for the Devils last year, spending most of his time with AHL Albany.
Meanwhile, other blueliners taken after Larsson -- Jonas Brodin, Dougie Hamilton -- have shown steady signs of improvement during their time in the NHL and are now all virtual regulars with their respective teams.
Larsson should have a better chance of being with the Devils full-time next season, though. Anton Volchenkov won’t be back after his contract was amnestied, and it’s expected UFA rearguard Mark Fayne will draw major interest in free agency.