Severson was traded to Columbus by New Jersey after signing an eight-year, $50 million contract with the Devils.
By the end of the 2022-23 season, New Jersey Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald knew his team was on the fast track to becoming a Stanley Cup contender. His young core got a taste of postseason hockey and now understands how difficult it is to win a round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
In this summer series, I will chronologically break down every move the organization made this offseason and discuss how it positively or negatively impacts the team for the 2023-24 season.
On June 9, The New Jersey Devils signed Severson to an eight-year deal with an AAV of $6,250,000. After signing the extension with New Jersey, he was traded to the Blue Jackets for a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
"I had my year-end exit meeting with (Fitzgerald), and he was really just smiling, and I came in, and he's like, 'Well, pal, you know, it sucks for me to say, but I can't afford you,' and he was honest with me right off the bat," he said during his media availability with Columbus reporters.
Severson was the longest-tenured player on New Jersey's roster last season. He's been on the Devils' blue line since the 2014-15 season, appearing in 647 games.
On a recent episode of the DNVR Avalanche Podcast, The Hockey News' New Jersey Devils beat reporter Kristy Flannery was asked which offseason departure would leave the biggest hole to fill, and without hesitation, said Severson.
While questionable passes and turnovers were occasionally committed throughout his career, Severson brought stability to the blue line. He led the team in ice time for multiple seasons and was heavily relied upon in all situations, including the power play and penalty kill.
This past season, He saw his ice time drop as he was moved to the third defensive pair with a rotation of partners, including Brendan Smith and Kevin Bahl. During the postseason, Severson and Bahl were arguably the team's most consistent pair, and during Round 1 versus the New York Rangers, head coach Lindy Ruff spoke about what made the duo so successful.
"I think both players have defended well," he said. "(They) move the puck quickly (and) get it up to the forwards and hurry. ... They complement each other, and I think the pair have done a good job for us. They read off each other really well right now. I think some of that cohesiveness is playing together this amount of time."
With Lukes Hughes and Simon Nemec as options on defense, it did not make sense for the Devils to commit eight years to the 28-year-old. Financially, it was time for New Jersey to move on from Severson. Fitzgerald has too many affordable options to slot in as the team's fifth/sixth defenseman.
Considering all that, the team will miss Severson's beautiful stretch passes and all the little things he has done over his nine-year career. A rotation of Colin Miller, Bahl, Smith, and possibly Nemec should soften the blow of a necessary move for the club's continued quest to contend for the Stanley Cup.