Devils Roster Update; Training Camp Candidates

We’re now in the latter half of August, and the 2024-25 NHL season is inching closer and closer. There’s always work being done behind the scenes, however, it’s no secret things slow down in the summer. But, now that September is upon us, the work is beginning to ramp up again. Of course, we’re alluding to the operations within the New Jersey Devils.

A glance at their official roster on the team website has a few updated names in the fold. However, behind the NHL media site, there is a more in-depth roster of 45 players, just 12 fewer names from last fall’s training camp roster.

It appears the 45 names will most likely be attending training camp this fall.

So who are we likely to see?

Is Anyone Missing?

There is obviously one name missing from the Devils’ current roster.

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Dawson Mercer’s entry-level contract run up on July 1st. He’s currently a restricted free-agent. Because he doesn’t own arbitration rights, the Devils and Mercer’s camp continue to work through negotiations on a new deal and there will be no neutral third-party to provide a settlement.

There’s no cause for concern here. It’s not unusual for a player to be missing from a roster without a contract. It just simply means the player still needs to put pen to paper, and there’s no reason to believe that won’t happen.

Devils Rookies

Whether they’re returning for another training camp, or attending their first, the Devils have a handful of rookies who will be in Newark this September.

The rookies listed on the Devils roster per the media site are as follows:

Seamus Casey, Cam Squires, Mikael Diotte, Josh Filmon, Daniil Misyul, Isaac Poulter, Chase Stillman, Topias Vilen, Dylan Wendt, & Tyler Brennan. 

There’s really only one player who is competing for NHL minutes in this group. Seamus Casey believes himself capable of claiming a spot in the Devils’ defensive corps.

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However, Casey is understanding that the road to the NHL isn’t linear. Following an impressive career in the NCAA, Casey’s spot in 2024-25 could be at the top of the Utica Comets’ blue line.

As for the rest, Cam Squires will head back to the QMJHL next season following a historic 2023-24 with the Cape Breton Eagles. Squires has played his way to the top of the Devils’ prospect pool and has emerged as a legitimate forward prospect.

The remaining rookies are likely headed to Utica.

Devils Depth Players

General manager Tom Fitzgerald put the work in this summer to ensure the Devils return a better team in 2024-25. That doesn’t happen without having depth on your side.

The following players listed on the Devils roster are depth who have a chance to see NHL minutes in 2024-25 in the case of injury:

Adam Beckman, Shane Bowers, Justin Dowling, Brian Halonen, Mike Hardman, Samuel Laberge, Nathan Legare, Ryan Schmelzer, Colton White, & Max Willman.

Of the 10 depth names above, seven are returning to the organization from last season. Shane Bowers is a borderline depth player who can compete for a roster spot with a really strong showing in camp. The same can be said of Brian Halonen and Max Willman.

The Devils acquired Adam Beckman from the Minnesota Wild this summer in exchange for Graeme Clarke. The Devils also brought back defenseman Colton White this summer on a standard two-way contract.

The majority of the depth players will likely make up for the main Comets roster in the AHL.

Devils Competing for NHL Roster

That leaves us with a handful of players who aren’t exactly locks for the roster, but will come to training camp looking to steal a spot from someone else.

Those names include:

Nico Daws, Nick DeSimone, Nolan Foote, Santeri Hatakka, & Johnathan Kovacevic.

Nico Daws signed a two-year contract. It’s more likely he claims a spot on the NHL roster next season when his contract upgrades to a one-way deal.

Nick DeSimone did earn a one-way deal, however. Yet, the abundance of blue liners, plus Casey pushing for NHL minutes, doesn’t lock DeSimone on the roster just yet. The same can be said about Johnathan Kovecevic — who the Devils acquired from the Montreal Canadiens — this summer. However, Kovacevic’s contract is a two-way deal. The same can be said for Santeri Hatakka.

Up front, it seemed last season was Nolan Foote’s time to prove he was an NHLer. His season was derailed by injuries and, thus, he was limited to just four games. Now signed to another two-way contract this summer, Foote has plenty of competition to compete with in front of him, and it appears Utica is more likely than not.

Devils Roster Locks

This seems self-explanatory, but let’s explore, shall we?

The 2024-25 roster locks on the updated roster are:

Jake Allen, Nathan Bastian, Jesper Bratt, Paul Cotter, Brenden Dillon, Dougie Hamilton, Erik Haula, Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Curtis Lazar, Kurtis MacDermid, Jacob Markstrom, Timo Meier, Simon Nemec, Stefan Noesen, Ondrej Palat, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, & Tomas Tatar.

Everyone is excited to see how the newcomers such as Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, and Paul Cotter fit into the Devils’ makeover from this summer.

Newcomers this season also include returning forward’s Stefan Noesen and Tomas Tatar, who inked new deal’s to return to New Jersey this summer following a brief hiatus with the Carolina Hurricanes and Colorado Avalanche/Seattle Kraken.

However, perhaps the most anticipated of all the new players is goaltender Jacob Markstrom. It’s been a long time since the Devils had a goalie who was so highly touted.

Of the locks listed, there are 20 players. That leaves three roster spots open for anyone in the three previous categories to grab. Perhaps there will be a few PTO candidates who will work their way to a new contract.

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