When the New Jersey Devils signed Kevin Rooney to an NHL deal in the midst of the 2016-17 NHL season, it wasn’t seen as a deal of any consequence for the team. Sure, Rooney had a level of success at the AHL level prior to signing with the big club, but his signing was seen more as a “NHL fill-in” deal rather than signing someone who could have a significant impact on the team’s play. In his limited NHL action prior to this season, he had no points in the four games he played in his signing year and again came up empty in the only contest he appeared in last season.