Devils betting on Adam Larsson's potential with new contract

The Ray Shero era has officially begun for the New Jersey Devils.

Two days after Lou Lamoriello resigned and joined the Toronto Maple Leafs as their general manager, the Devils general manager re-signed what figures to be an important piece of their next consistent winner, defenseman Adam Larsson.

The Devils announced the contract is worth $25 million over six seasons. Under Lamoriello, the Devils rarely, if ever, released contract details, but times have changed in New Jersey as the specifics were revealed in an email.

Larsson will earn $2.5 million in the first season, $3 million in 2016-17, $4.5 million in 2017-18, $4.85 million in 2018-19, $5.05 million in 2019-20 and $5.1 million in the final season.

The No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 draft, Larsson has not exactly hit the ground running in his 192 career NHL games. He played 65 games in his first season, then spent considerable time in back-to-back campaigns in the American Hockey League. In 64 games last season, he battled the mumps and sat in the press box as a healthy scratch.

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At times last season, Larsson lost his confidence, which is not uncommon for a 22-year-old defenseman. It often takes several seasons for a blueliner to become accustomed to the NHL, and Larsson did not have the usual transition when he jumped from the Swedish Elite League to the NHL upon being drafted.

His growth into becoming an everyday NHL player has been rocky, but it seems that he started to find a comfort level as the 2014-15 campaign progressed. Later in the season, and especially under the three-headed coaching staff of Scott Stevens, Adam Oates and Lamoriello after Peter DeBoer was fired, the slate was wiped clean and Larsson emerged. He finished with 24 points while averaging 20:58 minutes of ice time, both of which set career highs.

This contract shows the Devils believe Larsson is only beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.