Fantasy Impact: The New Jersey Devils have signed winger Ryane Clowe to a five year, $24.25 million contract.

The Devils get: screwed. Sorry Devils fans, but this contract is nearly as bad as the David Clarkson one (so I guess the Clowe one is easier to swallow, if the alternative was keeping Clarkson). From 2008-2011 he was worth this money. A power forward in his prime who was getting 55 to 60 points – that’s gold! But over the last two years, Clowe has sustained two concussions, an ankle and a shoulder injury. 

The result has been a slightly slower, slightly more timid Clowe. Maybe he finds the magic again, but I suspect that the Devils will be disappointed here.

Fantasy Players Impacted: That being said, making that kind of dough, Clowe will get all the ice in the world, with all the PP time and his choice of linemates. He will be set up to succeed in every way imaginable – so if he has a chance of rebounding, this is the situation to do it. 

Potential Line Combos (Clowe essentially replaces Clarkson in the lineup, a relatively seamless transition): 

Patrik Elias – Travis Zajac – Ilya Kovalchuk

Ryane Clowe – Adam Henrique – Dainius Zubrus

Mattias Tedenby – Andrei Loktionov – Steve Bernier

Ryan Carter – Stephen Gionta – Krys Barch

Stefan Matteau – Jacob Josefson

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Clowe

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

None