Devils Recall Justin Dowling, Daniil Misyul
The Devils recalled center Justin Dowling and defenseman Daniil Misyul from AHL Utica on Thursday, per a team announcement. They take the roster spots of center Michael McLeod and defenseman Cal Foote, who took indefinite leaves of absence from the team yesterday.
Dowling, 33, is in the 13th season of his professional career, which he’s spent mostly in the minors. An undrafted free agent signing by the Stars in 2014, he remained in the organization for seven years before joining the Canucks as a free agent in 2021. After completing a two-year deal in Vancouver, Dowling inked another two-year, two-way deal with New Jersey to serve as a veteran farmhand in Utica.
The Devils placed him on waivers to begin the season, and he passed through unclaimed. They’ve recalled him once – a one-day emergency summons on Oct. 29 – but he did not play. He has eight goals and 11 assists for 19 points in 30 games with Utica, a slight dip from his near-point-per-game pace with AHL Abbotsford over the past two seasons but solid nonetheless. He’s tied for fifth on the team in scoring and has a -6 rating.
Dowling’s offensive upside in the NHL is limited, boasting six goals and 12 assists through 98 appearances dating back to 2016. He’s adept in the faceoff circle, though, winning 175 of his 350 draws (a 50% success rate) and has been able to shoulder fourth-line minutes without getting caved in possession-wise. He’ll likely be a healthy scratch on most occasions barring two or more injuries to the Devils’ forward core, and will factor in limited minutes when he does play. 22-year-old Dawson Mercer has momentarily shifted to centering a second line between Ondřej Palát and Tyler Toffoli to help New Jersey cope with McLeod’s absence and an injury to star pivot Jack Hughes.
This is the first NHL recall for Misyul, 23, a third-round pick of the team in 2019. He’s in his first season under contract with the Devils, signing an entry-level deal in May 2023 after spending four post-draft seasons suiting up for Lokomotiv Yaroslavl in the KHL. A strong skater with a decent long-term NHL outlook as a bottom-pairing utility player, he’s posted three goals and eight assists, along with 33 PIMs, in 30 games with Utica. While the 6-foot-3 Belarusian won’t factor in much on the scoresheet in his first major-league chance, the Devils hope he can occupy a third-pairing role without much fanfare as they continue to deal with injuries to Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler and Brendan Smith on the back end.
New Jersey Devils Place Colin Miller On IR
Oct. 30: After scratching him for Sunday’s win over the Wild, the Devils have returned Dowling to AHL Utica, per a team announcement. The move is not surprising, given New Jersey does not play again until Thursday.
Oct. 29: Suffering a lower-body injury during a team practice on October 19th, the New Jersey Devils announced that defenseman Colin Miller has officially been placed on the injured reserve, and the team has recalled Justin Dowling to take his place on the roster.
It will not be a huge impact for New Jersey on the ice, as after being acquired from the Dallas Stars this past summer, Miller still has yet to suit up in any games this season, even before the injury took place. Last year in Dallas, Miller was an effective bottom-pairing option for the Stars, averaging almost 17 minutes a night, scoring six goals and 15 assists over 79 games.
With the Devils top-four defensemen essentially set in stone, the team has opted to keep the combination of Brendan Smith and Luke Hughes in the bottom pairing, allowing Hughes to play regular even strength with what the team has deemed a safer defensive partner.
Much like Miller, and potentially even more so, it’s going to be difficult for Dowling to break into the forward unit for New Jersey. He has not played an NHL game since the 2021-22 season with the Vancouver Canucks, and does not appear as an upgrade over any player already in the Devils’ bottom-six forward groups. However, he has gotten off to a strong start in the AHL with the Utica Comets, notching three assists in four games. At the very least, being able to practice with the Devils over the upcoming days will surely help his play once he eventually is sent back down.