News broke Monday morning of a potential deal on the table that would see New Jersey Devils 2015 1st round pick, Pavel Zacha, signing with Avangard Omsk of the KHL for one year. This would be a tough pill to swallow for Ray Shero and the Devils, as the KHL does not offer players an out clause for the NHL. In other words, once a deal is signed with the KHL, that negates the possibility of the player returning to the NHL for the duration of the contract.
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However, according to KHL insider, Aivis Kalnins, the announcement may have been a bit premature.
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The Devils have Hischier, Hughes and Zajac pencilled in down the middle, but with Zacha's potential departure, it may force Shero back into the trade market to acquire some more centre depth, unless the club feels that one of McLeod, Speers or Zetterlund might be ready to make the jump to the NHL this season.
If this isn't a negotiating move, and Zacha ends up officially signing in the KHL for the upcoming season, it is worth noting that he is still an RFA, so New Jersey would continue to hold his rights.
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