Devils acquire defenseman Jaros from San Jose; Extend qualifying offers to 5 players

NEWARK, N.J. — The New Jersey Devils acquired defenseman Christian Jaros from the San Jose Sharks on Monday in exchange for forward Nick Merkley.

The Devils said they had agreed to a one-year, two-way contract with the restricted free agent. The contract is worth $800,000 at the NHL level and $275,000 at the American Hockey League level. The two-way contract relates to what a player makes in either league and doesn't have anything to do with movement between the AHL and NHL.

The Utica Comets are beginning an affiliation with New Jersey during the 2021-22 season. 

Jaros, 25, split last season between San Jose and its AHL affiliate. He has spent the past four seasons between the NHL and AHL, three with the Ottawa Senators organization. In 83 career NHL games, Jaros has one goal and 13 assists with 35 penalty minutes. He played 79 games with AHL Belleville from 2017 to 2020.

A native of Slovakia, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound Jaros was Ottawa’s fifth-round selection, 139th overall, in the 2015 NHL draft.

Merkley split last season between New Jersey and Binghamton of the AHL, getting two goals and eight assists in 27 NHL games.

Also on Monday, the Devils announced qualifying offers for five players. A.J. Greer, Janne Kuokkanen, Gilles Senn, Yegor Sharangovich and Marian Studenic all received qualifying offers which allows the club to retain their NHL rights and continue negotiating new contracts for the restricted free agents. 

Senn a goalie, has reportedly signed overseas. He's not expected to be with the organization this season. There are already a total of five goalies signed throughout the organization. 

Four players not tendered a qualifying offer are goaltender Evan Cormier, forward Brandon Gignac, and defensemen David Quenneville and Colby Sissons. Each have AHL experience. 

All four players will become unrestricted free agents a noon Wednesday and are free to sign with other clubs.