To me, it's doesn't make great sense to severely overpay a UFA. And 8.5m is a severe overpayment. Seems to me he really doesn't want to be in NJ when you pay him 2m more than any other offer he will get.
Look where he rates in the St Louis lineup (maybe St Louis observers can comment). He rates behind Pietrangelo and made even Parayko.
Remember how the NJD "stole" Hall from the Oilers.....look how successful having one better player has worked out for the Devils.

The last time a defenseman of Shattenkirk'a caliber went to UFA, he got a 13 year contract for $7.5M per, Shatty is getting paid, no doubt about it, and a lot more than $6.5M. If the Devils don't give him $8M, someone else will, and I'd eat my hat if it's less than $7.5M

Commodndread: I know it's subjective....value, which is why I asked for St Louis fan's input, but there is debate on the ability of Shattenkirk....Third best Dman on St Louis shouldn't make him the second highest paid Dman in the league. At Weber's contract....doesn't that proof my point? Debatable value for Nashville. And even at that having the highest paid Dman for years on the league, what real success did Nashville have with Weber? (admitting it may not be his fault)
My point is....right or wrong...Just because a player is going to get paid 6.5 or 8.5 doesn't make good value for his newly signed team. And Shattenkirk, who has had some success as a Blue, will he really like being a Devil who may not be in the playoffs during most of his tenure a Devil. Unhappy, discouraged players rarely play up their potential (again who can predict the future)