The Devils announced Monday that they’ve re-signed defense prospect Santeri Hatakka to a one-year, two-way deal with a $775K cap hit. He was an RFA after receiving a qualifying offer last month and will earn $125K at the AHL level with a $150K guarantee.
Hatakka, 23, has appeared in parts of two NHL seasons, logging a career-high 12 games played with the Devils last year. He didn’t see any NHL action in 2022-23, limited by injuries to just eight AHL games after receiving a nine-game trial with San Jose in 2021-22.
In 21 overall appearances in the NHL, Hatakka has four assists and an even rating while averaging 13:47 per game. A 2019 sixth-round pick of the Sharks who was acquired in 2023’s Timo Meier blockbuster, he has eight goals and 26 assists for 34 points in 97 AHL games over the past three years. He’s coming off a career-best five goals and 20 points in 48 games while on assignment to Utica last season.
Hatakka was solid when called upon for NHL minutes in his first full campaign in the New Jersey organization. The smooth-skating left-shot Finn had a 49.8 CF% at even strength, 1.9% better than his teammates’ average in games he played in. He still has some room to grow, but he checks in as a reliable No. 8/9 option on the Devils’ depth chart entering 2024-25.
He won’t be in contention for an opening night roster spot after New Jersey brought in Brenden Dillon and Brett Pesce in free agency and Johnathan Kovacevic via trade, but he should be one of their first call-up options when injuries strike. He’ll compete for that right with veteran Nick DeSimone, who played a career-high 34 NHL games split between the Devils and Flames last season. 20-year-old right-shot defender Seamus Casey, who’s entering his first professional season after posting 45 points in 40 games at Michigan last season as a sophomore, will also be considered for call-ups.
Hatakka will require waivers to head to Utica to begin the season. He’ll be an RFA again upon expiry.