New Jersey Devils | CollegeHockeyPlayers

11Jul

Mike Hoeffel(26) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall), 3rd year left wing Mike Hoeffel(26) was re-signed to a one-year extension for 2013/2014.

He was initially signed to a 2-year entry level contract that saw him play 112 games with their AHL Albany Devils scoring 10 goals and 9 assists. He had virtually identical numbers in each of his first couple campaigns, although he was able to turn a -11 rating into a more formidable +1 on a team that was only 6 points removed from a playoff berth.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. has power forward size and will definitely be stepping up his game. He should be a 10/10 guy without even blinking, like he was able to achieve in four years of college hockey play with University Of Minnesota. In 149 games he left with 48 goals and 39 assists.

The 24-year awaits his first NHL recall.

18Mar

Harri Pesonen(18) New Jersey Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ undrafted Finnish rookie left wing Harri Pesonen(18) made his NHL debut over the weekend, a 2-1 loss.

He skated 13 shifts for 8:32 total ice time and was credited for one hit.

In 53 AHL games with minor league affiliate Albany Devils, the 5’11” 198 lbs. forward has scored 11 times and added 15 assists, while maintaining a 0 plus/minus.

Folks are hot on him to succeed in the show. He’s already played four seasons of pro hockey in Finland’s elite league, SM-liiga for JYP and put up some decent numbers.

In a very interesting move, the Devils have only signed the 24-year old to a one-year two-way deal with a signing bonus, which makes this recall seem more like an audition for an extension.

There’s only upside for the organization to continue to pursue more time to him to develop.

30Jan

Matt Anderson(29) New Jersey Devils

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Minor league feel good story of the year (so far): undrafted 6th year right wing Matt Anderson(29) gets his first recall with New Jersey Devils and plays in his NHL debut vs. Boston Bruins, a 2-1 shootout loss at 30-years old.

He skated 6:57 of ice time with no other real stats, which isn’t always a bad thing.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward originally signed an AHL contract with Albany Devils in 2010, his first new team since three seasons with Chicago Wolves, also under a minor league agreement.

In 2011, he scored his first big league deal, signing for one-year, two way with New Jersey.

He has a combined 351 AHL regular season and playoff games with 70 goals, 114 assists and a Calder Cup Championship ring to his credit.

He’s always been considered a team leader and plays that style of game, consistent, hard-working.

The Devils got lucky in a similar veteran call-up situations with Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier, so this could be a formula, especially in a shortened season.

And they would know: 1995.

19Jan

Mike Mottau(3) Toronto Marlies

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Heading into 2012/2013 13th year defenseman Mike Mottau(3) was an unrestricted free agent with 313 NHL games to his credit.

Originally a New York Rangers‘ 7th round draft pick in 1997 (#182 overall) he has skated with 5 different teams, his hometown Boston Bruins‘ being the most recent he skated with last season. He was acquired in a trade deadline deal and wore a spoked “B” for 8 games, including 2 in the playoffs.

With a lockout looming, the 34-year old blue liner had a decision to make: either sign a deal with an AHL team or risk not playing for a full year and potentially wrapping up a nice, long career.

He chose the former and inked a pto to join San Antonio Rampage, making his first appearances in the league since 2007. In 16 games, he put up 7 assists and was a +5 plus/minus helping stabilize the team to jump back into the playoff picture.

Offered a chance to fight for a spot on Toronto Maple Leafs‘ roster in a shortened training camp the 6’ 193 lbs., 2000 Hobey Baker Award winner as the best player in college hockey, took it.

He had a strong enough showing that he was signed to a 1-year, two-way contract for the shortened season. Reassigned to their minor league affiliate Toronto Marlies, he played his first game with his new team notched an assist in the loss.

31Dec

Rod Pelley(16) Norfolk Admirals

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7th year undrafted center Rod Pelley(16) has played the agitator role in the NHL for basically the entirety of his pro career.

He was originally signed by New Jersey Devils skating most of his rookie year with their AHL affiliate Lowell Devils but did get the recall for 8 games with the big club.

By the start of his second season he earned a job in Newark and was well on his way to patrolling the ice full-time as part of the show.

The 5’11” 200 lbs. was dropped back to the minors in his following year without ever getting the call to move back up but was squarely back in the NHL mix from 2009-2011.

He’s never been the type of skaters to add much to the scoresheet but consistently gets in the face of opposing players without costing his team by taking cheap penalties.

An early season trade sent him from the east coast to the west, where he took on the same role with Anaheim Ducks that he had during his entire time with New Jersey.

Looking into 2012/2013, the 28-year old was an unrestricted free agent and with no NHL in site, he signed a pto with the Ducks new farm team, Norfolk Admirals.

In 14 games, he has a pair of assists but has yet to spark a team that is easily better on paper than they are in the standings.

26Dec

Dan Kelly(28) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd year, undrafted defenseman Dan Kelly(28) is entering the final season of his 3-year entry level deal he signed at the conclusion of his junior career in 2010.

He has thus far spent his entire pro campaign with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils and although he may be far from tearing up the scoresheet putting up points he is about as accountable on the ice as you can get with a team that has struggled to win games.

His +16 plus/minus is the type of stat that may just keep the 6’1″ 195 lbs. d-man in the system for another year as he approaches restricted free agent status.

In 129 AHL games, the still very young 23-year old has 4 goals and 11 assists.

He’s definitely found it a bit tougher to crack the depth chart on the minor league squad this season with the NHL lockout still in full effect, having only appear in half of the regular season schedule so far.

11Nov

Adam Larsson(5) Albany Devils

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New Jersey Devils‘ 1st round pick in the 2011 draft (#4 overall), Swedish defenseman Adam Larsson(5) started his rookie season with the team as an 18-year and scored his first NHL goal one day before his 19th birthday. He would finish the 2011/2012 campaign with a pair of goals and 16 assists in 65 games but went a lowly -7 plus/minus. He also appeared in 5 postseason contests and scored his only goal in his first Stanley Cup Playoff game. At age 16 and 17 he already played two years in the Swedish Elite League (SEL).

Signed to a three-year entry level deal, the d-man was reassigned to start his sophomore season with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils, as the big club waits for word on whether they will play at all.

In 9 games he’s put up four helpers.

At 6’3″ 200 lbs. the youngster definitely has good size in his favor and will likely only continue to fill out that frame and has the ability to help the team put some points up on the board but has to push for more accountability in his zone.

02Nov

Adam Mair(11) retired

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12 year veteran center Adam Mair(11) has hung up his skates.

He’s played a total of 685 NHL regular season games scoring 38 goals and 76 assists, while racking up 829 penalty minutes.

Last year he was limited to 32 games for Springfield Falcons of the AHL because of an ankle injury, which required midseason surgery to repair, and also lost playing time to a 4-game suspension for a hit to the head.

The 33-year old forward probably thought it was going to be to difficult to sign a contract in yet another NHL lockout year (he sat idle during the first one in 2004/2005), so this was a good time to call it a career.

He’ll easily be remembered as a player for his 7 seasons in a Buffalo Sabres‘ uniform making sure opponents were held accountable.

His grit and determination will be missed but his path in hockey continues as he signed on to be the Director Of Player Development for Canisius College Golden Griffins in where else, downtown Buffalo.

28Oct

Mike Banwell(24) Worcester Sharks

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Mike Banwell(24) faced a bit of uncertainty where he was going to be playing in his sophomore season but eventually signed a deal with Trenton Titans, the team he spent 11 games with on reassignment in 2011/2012.

He played 24 games in his rookie campaign with Albany Devils under an AHL contract, notching 3 assists and appeared in another 11 ECHL contests with the Titans.

The 25-year old was an Adirondack Phantoms‘ training camp tryout invite but was returned to start 2012/2013 with Trenton, where in three games he has an assist.

Not being inked to a contract in the higher league, the 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner is free to latch on with any team looking to employ his services on call-up.

Worcester Sharks did just that as their defensive corps are depleted and he was signed to a pto joining the team for their first win of the new season.

22Oct

Adam Henrique(14) Albany Devils

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This one gets slotted in the “can you believe this is happening?” file. But regardless, is still too cool.

2nd year center Adam Henrique(14) is back skating with Albany Devils, the first pro emblem he wore on his chest, as the NHL, where he well-excelled in his rookie season, waits.

He’s picked up an assistant captain letter on his jersey since his last time with the A-Devils and a whole lot of gusto to his game. Despite going the first couple of dates without a point, he fixed that with a goal in the team’s first road contest, a 4-0 win.

On a side note, he now wears the same no. 14 that he does with the big club.

See related posts: 5/26-12, 10/24-11, 8/27-11