Devils Sign Prized Draft Pick Adam Larsson To Three-Year Deal
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) — The Devils have signed Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson, the No. 4 pick in last month's NHL draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract.
According to the Bergen Record, Larsson will earn $925,000 per year if he makes the pro roster.
Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello announced the deal during a conference call Friday, just hours before a league deadline for players under contract in Europe to sign in order to be eligible to play in North America in the upcoming season.
"This young man is as mature as he can get at his young age," said Lamoriello. "He understands what that means. He doesn't want to be different than any other player in that room and he made a decision to forgo those bonuses to get his career under way, become a Devil and get ready for training camp.
"He deserves all the credit in this, along with his conversations with not only the Swedish representation, but the representation here."
Lamoriello says Larsson, the top defenseman chosen in the draft, received a signing bonus but not any individual rookie bonuses. The 18-year-old Larsson is expected to play in either the NHL or AHL this season.
"In my mind, it's not a team-first philosophy when players have bonuses," said Lamoriello. "I am not one who is a believer in the rookie bonuses that are in the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement, yet everyone in the League that is drafted in the top areas seem to get them and nobody here has gotten them."
Larsson is the fifth player chosen in the first round to reach a deal with his new team.
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