The Devils, earlier Tuesday gave themselves a $7.1 million cushion under the current salary cap, which enabled them to sign Gionta. He was a restricted free agent, entering Devils camp in good faith without a new contract. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello worked out numerous deals over the past week in order to orchestrate a situation which would enable him to sign the 26-year-old right-winger.
“We were very fortunate with the patience and loyalty that Brian has shown,” said Lamoriello. “Brian, Paul, David, Scott and Erik – they all knew the situation we were in. We were totally up front with the positives and the negatives and that we would do everything we could. We wanted them here.
Gionta was originally drafted in the third round of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, and has spent his entire career in the Devils organization, including a Stanley Cup in 2002-2003. Last year, he tallied a career-high 48 goals and 41 assists in 82 games.
