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Devils forward Adam Henrique expects the team to bounce back next season.

(William Perlman/The Star-Ledger)

When Devils winger Ilya Kovalchuk walked away from 12 years and $77 million remaining on his contract, the loss of a skilled forward could have given restricted free agent Adam Henrique more leverage in his own negotiations.

"I should just ask for the rest of his contract," Henrique joked in a conversation today with The Star-Ledger.

"I never really looked at it as giving me more power or anything like that. We’re just trying to get something fair for myself and for the team. It obviously opens up a little more cap space."

The Devils signed center Jacob Josefson, also a restricted free agent, to a one-year, one-way $725,000 contract, his agent confirmed.

Although the Devils qualified Josefson at $850,000 to prevent him from becoming unrestricted, that deal would have been a two-way contract that meant a lower salary if the 22-year-old Swede wound up in the minors.

Now it is Henrique’s turn. Both the center and Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said a new deal could be finalized by the weekend.

"Could be. It’s close. It’s coming along well," Henrique said. "There is no huge rush or deadline, so we’re just going at it a day at a time."

When the free agency signing period opened two weeks ago, there was the possibility of another club trying to sign Henrique to an offer sheet. The Devils would have matched, but they still had Kovalchuk on their books and might have been vulnerable to a lucrative offer.

But there was no offer sheet forthcoming.

"I’m not overly surprised. A lot of teams made a lot of moves," Henrique reasoned.

"I guess maybe the teams that were in position to do that signed guys and made moves. It wasn’t something I was looking for and it was out of my control. Whatever would have happened, this is where I want to be."

And there is no doubt the Devils need him. Whether it is at center or on the wing, Henrique is optimistic about the 2013-14 season for the team and himself.

Last season, as the Devils missed the playoffs, Henrique scored 16 points (11 goals, five assists) in 42 games. He started the lockout-shortened season in the minors after Nov. 29 surgery for ulnar collateral ligament damage in his left thumb suffered in a Nov. 25 AHL game in Atlantic City.

"Last year was a bit of a different year, coming off the injury. The whole team kind of went through a dry spell," Henrique reflected.

Does he see himself as one of those players who’ll have to pick up the scoring slack following Kovalchuk’s departure?

"I haven’t really thought about more pressure on me. Maybe there is more opportunity," Henrique said. "I want to make sure I do everything I possibly can to come ready for the season. I want to have a great year and I want to get the team back in the playoffs and back in the running. We were there two years ago. This past season was tough."

On paper, next season could be even tougher.

"Obviously a lot of people were surprised and shocked by (Kovalchuk’s) his decision," Henrique said. "I talked to guys on the team and to Lou (Lamoriello). He’s not coming back in the next month or so. We just have to move forward.

"It’s a blow to the team. He was our best player, or one of our best players. He’s a game-breaker. But nothing is going to change what’s happened now. I feel in the offseason we picked up some great players and made some moves to improve our team. I’m excited about where the team is headed."

Henrique is very close to signing a new contract, perhaps a long-term deal.

"It kind of depends," he explained. "We’ve gone over shorter terms and longer terms. I love it here. I love playing here. The fans have been awesome. The organization is great. It’s becoming another home. We’re not locked in with longer or shorter. We’ll see."

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Devils prospects went to see Spiderman on Broadway last night. They will scrimmage at 2 p.m. today in Newark.