I thought I'd take a look at the outlook for next season from a roster that can't score enough goals, are nothing better than average skaters or less (Except CASEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!), are poor at puck control and maneuvering with the puck (again except CASEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, have a low hockey IQ (you guessed it except CASEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Here's a list of the "players" who still have a contract for next season:
Defense
1) Seamus Casey (and that's only if he's still here) - I think NJ wants to cook him for one more season. God help them when they have to eat the results if they trade him. If they still question his ability to handle the NHL forecheck and net front protection, I would advocate something I've never felt comfortable with, but in his case I do.
Move the kid up to forward. His skating, puck handling, passing, shot accuracy, IQ (both hockey and human), and ability to elude opposition skaters who go at him are all at a high skill level. The NHL has become a league where the right type of smaller forwards can excel. In either case this kid has the goods.
2) Topias Vilen - Last year of his ELC and a solid member of the Top 6.
3) Colton White - He is versatile D-man playing on either the right or left side. He will, be on the last year of his NHL 2-way deal. He is a veteran by AHL rules and offers leadership qualities.
4) Mikael Diotte - I assume this season will slide contract wise since he suffered a season ending injury after only 7 GP (2 with Utica and the last 5 with ECHL Adirondack. If so he will be on the 1st year of his ELC. He was lost on the AHL ice and after not having played anywhere near enough games to change that, I would assume he opens up in Adirondack. That's it for D-men under contract.
5) - Santeri Hatakka - He is an RFA and will have to be re-signed. There's a question as to whether NJ sees that as feasible. He is injured way more than he is healthy. This was his 4th season as a pro.
1- 41GP AHL San Jose
9 GP NHL San Jose
2 - 8 GP AHL San Jose
0 GP AHL Utica
3 - 12 GP NHL NJ
48 GP AHL Utica
4 - 12 GP AHL Utica to date
Hatakka and White would have to clear waivers. If the Devils re-sign Dumolin or sign another veteran with a better history, I think they try to send Santeri to Utica.
The rest of this year's D-corps is very unlikely to be re-signed if the Comets are to have a better season than the basement dweller in the the North Division where they have been since the 1st game of the 2024-25 AHL season.
- Dmitry Osipov (UFA) - A 28-yr-old 6'4"/229 LB RD acquired on 1/29/24 in an AHL trade with the Hershey Bears for Jace Isley. Isley was on an AHL 2-way contract with Utica. Before and after the trade Jace hasn't played a single AHL game. He.s been in the ECHL. Dmitry has played 31 games for the Comets thus far this season.
- Austin Strand (UFA) - A 28-yr-old 6'3"/194 LB RD acquired on 1/6/25 from the AHL Rockford IceHogs for future considerations. Utica is the 6th AHL team he has played for. He has played 28 games with the Comets thus far.
- Tory Dello (UFA) - A 28-yr-old 6'0"/194 LB RD was signed on 3/13 one day ahead of the AHL TDL. He was acquired from AHL Grand Rapids for future considerations. He has played 1 game after arriving in time to do such.
All 3 of these guys are 28-yrs-old. 2 were acquired for future considerations and the other for an ECHL player meaning the teams they came from literally gave them to Utica to get them off their hands.
I haven't really seen enough of Dello to make an informed decision (1GP), but if any get a contract it should be one at most and he should only be signed for depth. Not as the #7, but for DEPTH!!!! The situation would occur when the Comets have employed their #7 and still need a player to take the ice for 6 D.
They will be UFAs and they will have trouble being signed to PLAY for any AHL team. If they are signed, they will likely end up as depth on another AHLteam or in the ECHL on an AHL 2-way and hope to play their way up when the AHL team needs help. That usually happens to most AHL teams. Look at Utica who is currently employing all 3 of them.
NJ needs to do something about constructing a solid top 6 with a 7th to who can adequately step in at any time when NJ recalls someone or the Comets suffer an injury. This guy might also sub in and out all season to give guys a break now and then. He is an adequate AHL player who is behind 6 guys who are just a bit better.
Forwards:
9 forwards already have contracts for 2025-26. Considering the outcome this season some of these guys are not the best choices moving forward.
1) Xavier Parent was just signed by NJ to a 1-yr 2-way NHL contract for 2025-26. His Comets' $ will be $85K.
He can play all 3 forward spots, but his best game comes on LW.
He has 26 Pts (11G/15A) in 46 GP. His numbers are down due to having missed 11 games and the lack of output from the linemates he has been jockeyed around with. He is more of a setup man than a scorer. He only had 15 goals last season in 71 GP, but amassed 30 assists. His 15 assists this season are not indicative of the number of passes he has provided to team mates who have wasted them.
There are still 15 games to go and time to put up more points. He will definitely be a Comet next season.
2) Brian Halonen - He will be on the final year of a 2-yr, 2-way NHL contract. He has 33 Pts, 21 goals in 50 GP. He has 21 goals but must shoot or try to shoot at least 10 times per game. Once he has the puck he is extremely reluctant to give it up, but he is always expecting to get the puck from anybody else who has it when he is on the ice. There is definitely a degree of selfishness in his game.
if you multiply those 10 efforts I just mentioned , he has tried to score a goal 560 times. He has 21. If he passed a little more often and went to empty space and got a return pass or ended up in front for rebounds those numbers would be higher.
He will be a Comet unless NJ sees that mindset change when he comes to camp next season. He is also not real effective in the D-zone either. Other guys are often covering for him.
3) Shane Bowers - He will be on the last of a 2-yr, 2-way NHL contract paying him $200K. The fact he is making even more right now at $225K and has 3 goals at the moment, he's stealing money. I don't know who has been assessing this guy's play, but he is #15 in team scoring with 14 points in 51G and that's just not cutting it.
4) Mike Hardman - He will be on the final year of a 2-yr, 2-way NHL deal paying him $350K/yr. He has 24Pts/14G in 45GP. His 26 points rank him #6 in team scoring. He doesn't hit and doesn't play a hard offensive game. For the money, I'm not impressed with his game either.
5) Ryan Schmelzer - Again an iron man. He was the only Comet last season to play all 72 Games and he currently is the only Comet to have played all 57games this season. That is quite an accomplishment for a guy who hits in all 3 zones, digs the corners, backchecks his balls off, covers the net front like a center should, kills penalties, and centers the top line. Not bad for a guy who pencils in at #3 center when every season camp opens, but seems to end up on top before too long. He led the team in scoring last season and is #4 thus far this season. He has had a hand in Nolan Foote ascending to the top of the team scoring list as his center.
Ryan will be on the the 2nd year of an NHL 2-yr/2-way contract paying him $275K/year. If you watch the Comets play game after game he is the guy who appears to be doing the most to earn his NJ salary more than the rest who are receiving one.
6) Jonathan Gruden - He will be on the 2nd of a 2-yr/ 2-way NHL contract that he signed with Pittsburgh and the Devils inherited that contract. He will be paid $250K. I see no reason that NJ will want him up there so that means he will end up in Utica provided he clears waivers.
7) Josh Filmon - Will enter the 2nd year of his ELC. This season he has played 9 games with the Comets and the rest have been with Adirondack. He showed no ability to play in the AHL. Will that change next season? Only time will tell, but he won't be a key cog if he does make it.
8) Dylan Wendt - He will be on the 2nd year of an NHL 2-way contract. He has been with Adirondack for most of the season. He has played 8 games with Utica and has been called up on several occasions, but usually sat out as a depth player. An NHL 2-way player that can't even make the AHL team does not say much for his future.
That's it for signed NHL contracts.
Signed AHL Contracts:
Jack Malone - He will on Yr 2 of a 2yr AHL standard contract.
He is the only one.
The following will be UFAs:
- Max Willman - He's making $275K and has 6G and 20PtS. Another guy stealing money.
- Justin Dowling - He had 4 PTs (2G/2A) in 7 GP with the Comets before being called up to NJ. He is in the 2nd yr of a NJ NHL 2-way contract. It paid him $500K to play in Utica and $775K to play in NJ. He would be welcome in Utica on a new contract. His destiny is in NJ's hands unless his agent can find him a guaranteed NHL slot somewhere else. I'm going to go with the Devils.
- Marc McLaughlin - He is on a 1-yr/2-way NHL deal signed with Boston and inherited by NJ. It pays him $120K to play in Utica.
- Sam Laberge - He is on a 1yr/2-way NHL deal paying him $120K in Utica.
There are 2 guys that will become RFAs;
1) Nolan Foote - He is on 1yr/2-way NHL contract paying him $150K in Utica. That's BS for the season he has been having. He's making crap compared to the other guys NJ brought in for much more money. Nolan is the team's leading scorer with 18G/21A/39Pts. Will NJ qualify him? We'll have to wait and see.
2) Nathan Legare - He is on a NJ 1yr/2-way NHL deal. He makes $85K to play in Utica. He has put up a new personal total in goals with 11. Coupled with 5 assists he has 16 Pts. Coach Parent has seen something in him that Dineen never did. He is more than just a banger, crasher, 4th line defensive forward. He has moved up the lineup and is still the same physical player, but has a chance to show a little offense. NJ brought him up and Keefe was impressed with the way he played as were many posters on this site. He's not an NHL regular, but he can hold his own in an emergency callup. I hope they qualify him.
Joe Gambardella and Filip Engaras are on AHL contracts and will become UFA at the end of the season.
Goal -
Poulter will be an RFA.
Daws is signed for next season.
Malek should be coming over.
The way things stack up now, Poulter gets a new contract and he plays in tandem with Malek and Daws backs up Marky.
This all depends upon what Fitz thinks and as a result what he does in the off season.
Tyler Brennan has been in ECHL Adirondack. he still has 1 year left on his ELC and hasn't played a single AHL game as of now.. He can't possibly be in the plans for AHL duty.
It will depend upon what NJ does in constructing a team for 2025-26 as to what players listed here are brought back. Considering the Comets' plight, it would behoove the Devils to improve this roster and let some of these guys find new work elsewhere. If they just re-sign everyone who has an expired contract, it would be criminal.
