New Jersey Devils Recall Akira Schmid
The New Jersey Devils have recalled netminder Akira Schmid from the Utica Comets of the AHL. Schmid last dressed for New Jersey on March 5th and has lost four of his last five decisions.
A playoff hero a year ago for the Devils, Schmid looked like a possible extension candidate last summer but entered this year without a new deal and in the final year of his entry-level contract. Schmid struggled to start the season losing five of his first six starts and was never able to return to the form he displayed last season.
The Devils opted to demote Schmid at the end of 2023 hoping that he could regain his confidence and form, before recalling him in February. Schmid had two good relief appearances for the Devils, but they were unfortunately sandwiched between two underwhelming starts. Schmid was then assigned back to Utica where he has played 20 games this season, going 8-8-4 with a 3.12 goals-against average and .891 save percentage. In the NHL this season, Schmid is 5-9-1 in 19 appearances and has a 3.15 goals-against average with a .895 save percentage.
The recall is not all that surprising given the comments Devils head coach Travis Green had about the Devils goaltender Kaapo Kahkonen on Sunday, saying that the netminder isn’t doing great after his lower-body injury.
Curtis Lazar Likely Out For Season
The Devils will likely be without forward Curtis Lazar for the rest of the season after he sustained an upper-body injury in yesterday’s 4-3 win over the Senators, head coach Travis Green said (via James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now). Green confirmed that Lazar’s injury will make way for Shane Bowers to enter the lineup tonight against the Predators after being recalled from Utica earlier today.
- New Jersey will also be without defenseman John Marino against Nashville, as the team’s Amanda Stein relays he remains out with an upper-body injury. He sustained the injury while fighting Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller in a game-opening line brawl last Wednesday and already missed yesterday’s contest against the Sens. Injuries have sidelined Marino, the Devils’ top right-shot defender with Dougie Hamilton out long-term, for five of their last 12 games. The shutdown blue-liner has been better offensively but worse defensively than last year, notching 25 points in 71 games but logging an xG% south of 50 for only the second time in his career. He has three seasons remaining on his contract at a $4.4MM cap hit, with an eight-team no-trade list that kicks in this summer.
Devils Recall Shane Bowers
The Devils recalled forward Shane Bowers from AHL Utica on Sunday, per a team announcement.
Bowers, 24, gets his second major league call of the season one week after erupting for four points in a game against Springfield. He factored in on every goal Utica scored as they try to make a late push for a playoff spot in the North Division.
It’s otherwise been a season to forget for the 2017 first-round pick, whose hopes for a long-term future in the NHL are quickly dwindling. He’s made 40 appearances with the Comets but has put up bottom-six numbers with nine goals, 13 points and a -11 rating.
New Jersey is his fourth NHL organization, having seen his rights traded three times after being picked up by the Senators in the draft. The Devils acquired his signing rights from the Bruins in late June 2023 in exchange for the signing rights to minor league defenseman Reilly Walsh.
Bowers was a non-factor in a three-game call-up to New Jersey in January, going without a point while averaging 6:26 per game. He went 4-for-13 in the faceoff dot and had a negative possession impact in advantageous offensive usage, posting a 44.7 CF% and a -0.8 expected rating.
The Canadian center was a solid point producer in college with Boston University, but injuries have derailed his ability to adjust to the pro game after signing with the Avalanche in 2019. His games with the Devils this season were just the second, third and fourth of his NHL career, and his overall AHL production has been underwhelming with 40 goals and 79 points in 214 games over the past six seasons.
Bowers is signed to a two-way deal this season that pays him $775K in the NHL and $125K in the AHL. He’ll be an RFA with arbitration rights this summer but is a strong candidate not to receive a qualifying offer and reach unrestricted free agency for the first time.
Devils Assign Max Willman To Minors
The Devils have done some roster trimming before tomorrow’s game against the Senators, announcing the assignment of forward Maxwell Willman to AHL Utica. His reassignment signals that Nolan Foote, who hasn’t played since a four-game conditioning stint in Utica one month ago, could soon be cleared for game action. Foote participated in today’s practice, per Amanda Stein of the Devils’ official site, but line rushes indicate he’s unlikely to make his season debut for New Jersey tomorrow. Willman’s now-vacant roster spot could also go to a defense callup, as interim head coach Travis Green told Stein that blue-liner John Marino is questionable against Ottawa due to an undisclosed injury.
Willman, 29, was inked to a one-year, two-way deal last offseason and has logged significant action in both New Jersey and Utica. He’s been recalled six times, making 18 NHL appearances, but his four points, 40.1 CF% at even strength, and minimal usage (8:20 per game) have done little to put him in consideration for a full-time spot on the Devils’ roster.
His NHL career began with six points in 41 games with the Flyers in 2021-22, although his possession metrics were similarly poor in that span: a -13 rating and 42.9 CF%. He played only nine games the following campaign, spending most of it in the minors. Since turning pro five years ago, he’s held down a middle-six role with 88 points in 173 AHL games and 25 points in 20 ECHL games.
With six games remaining on their schedule and playoffs no longer a remote possibility, this will be Willman’s last transaction of the season unless a sudden rash of injuries strikes the Devils’ forward group. He’s not going to be a long-term NHL option for anyone at this rate, but with 11 goals and 21 points in 31 games with Utica this season, he’s proven his value to the organization as a veteran presence in the minors. A pending UFA, Willman likely won’t earn anything much higher than his current $150K guaranteed salary on his next deal.
Devils Expected To Sign Dylan Wendt
The New Jersey Devils are expected to sign Western Michigan University’s Dylan Wendt, per Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald (Twitter link). This deal would mark New Jersey’s first venture into the NCAA since signing Luke Hughes in 2022 and Brian Halonen, Aarne Talvitie, and Tyce Thompson in 2021.
Wendt exploded onto the scene this season, ranking second on Western Michigan with 23 goals and 44 points in 38 games. It was a tremendous jump in scoring, after Wendt tallied just 25 points in 73 games as an underclassman. And it came thanks to a boost in role, with Wendt moving into Western Michigan’s top-six and top power-play unit this season. He didn’t squander the opportunity – using a strong understanding of positioning, quick hands, and the ability to make sneaky passes to emerge as a key playmaker for the Broncos. Wendt was a key set-up man for top scorers Luke Grainger and Alex Bump, and always seemed to be in the right place to bury any second-chance opportunities.
Wendt was a critical part of the 2020-21 Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he worked alongside San Jose Sharks prospect Daniil Gushchin and New York Islanders prospect Cameron Berg to lead Muskegon to the league’s semi-finals. Again, Wendt’s strong understanding of the three lanes of the ice and his strong playmaking from the wings led to high scoring, with Wendt totaling 17 goals and 45 points in 53 games, and adding four assists in four playoff games. He’ll now look to become the third player from that lineup to play pro hockey, alongside Guschin and John Farinacci.
Artem Schlaine Enters Transfer Portal
- Devils prospect Artem Schlaine has entered the transfer portal, relays Mark Divver of the New England Hockey Journal (Twitter link). The 22-year-old was a fifth-round pick by New Jersey back in 2020 (130th overall) and has spent four seasons in college, two with the University of Connecticut and the last two with Northern Michigan University. Schlaine had a bit of a down year offensively compared to a year ago but still had 23 points in 27 games this season, good for second on the Wildcats in scoring. The transfer means New Jersey should retain his rights for one more summer.
College Hockey Notes: Salminen, Graf, Sergeyev
New Jersey Devils forward prospect Samu Salminen is set to enter the NCAA transfer portal, per James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now (Web link). Salminen has spent the last two seasons at the University of Connecticut, joining the school after six years in Jokerit’s youth program. Salminen has scored 17 points in both his freshman and sophomore seasons, playing in 27 games last year and 35 this year. He’s managed the scoring while serving in UConn’s middle six, averaging just under 15 minutes of ice time this season.
The Devils drafted Salminen in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft, after a strong year with Jokerit’s U20 club. He’s praised as a smooth-moving playmaker, with the ability to fill his role in the middle lane of the ice, making an impact from slot to slot. And while he’s continued to show strong puck skills at UConn, Salminen could improve how he works into dangerous areas of the ice. He’ll look to build those skills as he adjusts to a new offense.
Salminen was originally committed to the University of Denver, swapping his commitment just a couple of months before his debut with UConn after reportedly facing challenges with Denver’s admissions. No schools have been linked to Salminen now that he’s returned to the open market, but it’s hard not to think previous connections could drive a move out West.
Other notes out of the NCAA:
- The Boston Bruins are reportedly not in on prolific winger Collin Graf, says NHL.com’s Mark Divver (Twitter link). Graf is now on the open market after a strong collegiate career, managing 130 points across 112 collegiate games. The Bruins are always popular names in NCAA free agency – already signing Drew Bavaro, Ryan Bischel, Riley Duran, and Jaxon Nelson this Spring. But they’ll stray away from leading-scorer Graf, who is receiving plenty of interest from the rest of the league – with Divver adding that Graf has narrowed his list to six teams. He’s expected to sign in the coming days.
- Top Calgary Flames goalie prospect Arsenii Sergeyev has entered the transfer portal and quickly decided on a new school – confirming a move from UConn to Pennsylvania State University through a social media post (Twitter link). Sergeyev will hope to step into Penn State’s starting role, after splitting starts in both of his seasons with UConn. He’s been fantastic in his underclassmen starts, managing 19 wins and a .913 save percentage in 35 appearances. It’s a continuation of Sergeyev’s strong USHL career, where he posted 30 wins and a .913 save percentage in 43 games. The Flames drafted Sergeyev in the seventh round of the 2021 NHL Draft. His early return has been incredibly positive, though Calgary will hold their breath as he moves to a highly competitive Big Ten conference.
Devils Reassign Santeri Hatakka
The Devils announced Monday afternoon that the team has assigned blue-liner Santeri Hatakka to AHL Utica, indicating that Jonas Siegenthaler could be ready to return Tuesday after missing over two weeks with a concussion.
The move brings an end to Hatakka’s fourth recall of the season. Picked up from the Sharks in last year’s Timo Meier trade, Hatakka has provided New Jersey with some solid minutes when called upon to fill depth roles due to a rash of injuries on defense. The quick-footed left-shot defender has a solid 49.8 CF% at even strength, 1.9% better than his teammates without him, and two assists in 12 games this season. However, he hasn’t controlled possession quality despite some favorable offensive usage, logging a -1.7 expected rating.
Even with Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton unavailable, Hatakka’s role had dwindled over the past few days. He played just over five minutes in his last appearance on March 24 and was scratched in three of New Jersey’s last four games.
Hatakka had been on the NHL roster since March 13, when he was recalled under emergency conditions. On March 18, he was papered down to Utica for a brief period, and six days later, his emergency recall was converted into a standard one. That transaction burned the second of four allotted post-trade deadline standard recalls.
Barring further injuries, Hatakka will likely finish out the year in Utica. There, he has four goals, 13 assists and 17 points in 41 games with a +1 rating. He’ll provide reinforcements to a Utica team that’s three points out of a playoff spot in the AHL’s North Division, trailing Laval with two games in hand. He’s in the final season of his entry-level contract and will need a new deal before July to avoid reaching restricted free agency.
Bruce Boudreau Interested In New Jersey, Other Coaching Opportunities
Long-time head coach Bruce Boudreau is ready and waiting to return behind the bench in the NHL, and the New Jersey Devils appear to be on his short list of teams. In an article from Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media, the Devils do not appear enthusiastic about retaining interim head coach Travis Green and will look through the market for an upgrade this offseason.
Since Green took over the reins for New Jersey, the Devils have produced a 6-7-0 record, and still find themselves five points back of the Washington Capitals for the final wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, with less than 10 games remaining in the regular season. After last year’s 112-point finish, General Manager Tom Fitzgerald was certainly looking for this team to keep pace in the competitive Metropolitan Division.
One of the main factors in Boudreau’s interest in New Jersey is his connection to the Hughes brothers from many years ago. When asked about the two, Boudreau was quoted as saying, “I got to meet Jack and Quinn when they were three or four years old. I’d watch them skate when we’d have ice. Ellen was the skating coach, so they’ve gotten into this culture and they were very serious about it. Jim Hughes was a very serious coach. I’m sure those guys, at an early age, were doing things that kids couldn’t do at twice their age“.
With an established relationship with one of the team’s most important players, Boudreau may be a seamless fit with the Devils organization. However, he will not be handed the position and will have to compete with several other high-profile coaching candidates this summer.
Even though Boudreau currently sits 22nd all-time in wins amongst individuals who have held the position of head coach in the NHL, he has been unable to capture the Stanley Cup after coaching his teams to the Stanley Cup playoffs more often than not. Because of this, New Jersey may opt to employ a candidate with more recent postseason success, such as Craig Berube, the former head coach of the St. Louis Blues.
Devils Notes: Hamilton, Bastian, Siegenthaler, Halonen
Devils interim head coach Travis Green spoke with reporters today, including Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media, to provide an update on a pair of injured players. He indicated that it’s unlikely that Dougie Hamilton will return at all this season. Hamilton had surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle a little less than four months ago and is currently on LTIR. Since the Devils primarily sold at the deadline, they could easily have gotten back into cap compliance to activate the veteran if he was able to return.
Meanwhile, the news is a little better for winger Nathan Bastian. Green indicated there is a chance that the 26-year-old could return from an upper-body injury that has caused him to miss a little more than a month. Bastian has a dozen points along with 143 hits in 54 games so far this season.
More from New Jersey:
- Defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler took part in practice today as he works his way back from an upper-body injury, mentions team reporter Amanda Stein (Twitter link). He has missed more than two weeks with this latest ailment, one that came just a few weeks after missing 16 games with a foot issue. Siegenthaler has been limited to just nine points through 49 games so far but as a second-pairing player, New Jersey would certainly like to get him back in the lineup sooner than later.
- Brian Halonen’s daily transactions tour continues. Per the AHL’s transactions log, the forward has been recalled to New Jersey’s roster today after being sent down yesterday. This is his third recall since Wednesday. The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last month, his only appearance at the top level so far. Meanwhile, with Utica, he has fared well with 16 goals and eight assists in just 30 games. He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract.