New Contract Comparable Emerges for Devils and Paul Cotter

The Vegas Golden Knights have mastered the craft of cap and roster flexibility in recent years and did so again with the extension of forward Brett Howden.

Just a few days after extending defenseman Brayden McNabb to a three-year, $10.95 million contract, they made the move to lock up a key bottom-six forward in Howden. In a deal that looks very similar to the one former Devil Miles Wood signed with the Colorado Avalanche in free agency, Howden inked a five-year, $12.5 million contract.

The deal carries a $2.5 million per season cap hit for the 26-year-old.

If there’s one person who should take a long look at this extension, it is current Devil and former Golden Knight Paul Cotter.

Bookmark this for when Paul Cotter’s contract is up #NJDevils https://t.co/aZ20qykrKu

— Nick Natale (@NickNatale10) November 22, 2024

Cotter, who came over via trade in the summer, is having a breakout season with the Devils. He’s on track to smash his career highs in goals and points, as well as time on ice.

RELATED: New Jersey Devils Paul Cotter Impressing, More than Just ‘Meat & Potatoes’

During his time in Vegas, Cotter was primarily a fourth liner, but has found a home on the Devils third line. He and Erik Haula have formed solid chemistry on a line that has seen a revolving door of players join their wing. At times, he’s even found himself playing next to Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. His grit, speed, and physicality are why General Manager Tom Fitzgerald brought him to New Jersey and why head coach Sheldon Keefe has trusted him to play significant ice time.

“What we wanted to accomplish, adding a guy like Paul Cotter, who we believe has upside and has a little bit of Miles Wood in him, he can skate and is physical,” said Fitzgerald over the summer.

Cotter is on track to also have career highs in goals and points per 60 minutes, as well as Corsi and expected goals percentage. In addition, he is also the current leader in hits on a Devils team that is near the top in the hits category.

When the Devils traded for Cotter, they got a heck of a deal. His current contract runs through the 2025-26 season with a cap hit of just $775k. The Devils should get plenty of surplus value on his current contract, but the way he’s played, he’ll be in line for a sizable extension.

READ: Stefan Noesen Becoming Key Piece to Devils Success

Brett Howden’s 5 x $2.5 could be the starting point. Howden is in the midst of his own breakout season and capitalized on it. Cotter is extension eligible on July 1st, 2025, and it wouldn’t be too surprising if the Devils began to negotiate a long-term deal with him.

For the Devils, a long-term deal with a smaller average annual value should be their target. Cap space will continue to get squeezed as the team competes for a Stanley Cup and will need as much flexibility as possible.

A contract in the five to six year range, at three million dollars or less per season, gives Cotter long-term security and the Devils a little bit of cap wiggle room. Something along the lines of five years, $2.75 million per season would make a ton of sense for both camps.

If Cotter’s breakout continues to trend upwards, then the conversation shifts to something a bit bigger, but as it stands, he looks as if he’s settled into a third-line role.

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