With the Devils playing their final game before the break this afternoon, they’ve wasted little time setting their roster for the next couple of weeks until play resumes while freeing up a bit of extra salary cap space in the process. The team announced that goaltender Nico Daws and defensemen Simon Nemec and Santeri Hatakka have been assigned to AHL Utica.
Daws was recalled last weekend to serve as Jake Allen’s backup with Jacob Markstrom still sidelined due to a lower-body injury. He made a pair of appearances during that stint, one in relief with one start, turning aside 32 of 34 shots. Daws has been limited to just 21 games with the Comets due to injury where he has a 3.40 GAA and a .888 SV%. He’ll likely get a few starts during the break before being recalled when NHL play resumes as Markstrom might not quite be ready to return by then.
As for Nemec, he was brought up on Thursday with Jonas Siegenthaler banged up. He played in both of New Jersey’s games following his promotion but was held off the scoresheet. On the season, he has only played 11 games with the Devils after seeing action in 60 a year ago. Instead, Nemec has spent most of the campaign in Utica where he has been able to play a much bigger role. The 20-year-old has done well down there with 22 points in 32 games.
As for Hatakka, his demotion should come as little surprise after he cleared waivers earlier today. He has yet to play this season after missing the first four months of the campaign while recovering from shoulder surgery. He split last season between New Jersey and Utica and will now try to play himself into consideration for a recall for the stretch run.