The New Jersey Devils locked up two of their potential pieces of the future to entry level deals as they look to see what they can do.
The New Jersey Devils broke some news on Monday morning as they announced the signing of forwards Fabian Zetterlund and Mikhail Maltsev to three year entry level contracts that begin with the 2019-20 season. They will both be eligible for either the NHL or AHL as they hope to get their pro careers going. This is great news for the Devils and their fans as well as these players as some skill lower in the lineup is just what they need.
Zetterlund was taken 63rd overall in the 2017 NHL Draft as the third overall Devil taken behind Nico Hischier and Jesper Boqvist. We know what Hischier is becoming and this is a real chance that all three of these picks make significant impacts for the New Jersey Devils organization. Zetterlund dealt with an injury in 2018-19 but he has done enough to earn himself a chance at the NHL.
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Maltsev was taken 102nd overall as the fifth Devil taken in the 2016 NHL Draft. This was another deep draft for the Devils as he was taken behind Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian, Joey Anderson, and Brandon Gignac. All four of those guys ahead of Maltsev have been seen in the NHL with the Devils so Maltsev has a chance to add to that organizational depth.
Both of these players are coming into the 2019-20 season with a chance to crack the NHL roster. This is going to be a season where the Devils are expecting to compete. They are hoping that they will have a healthy Taylor Hall, who can be a game breaker. This is on top of making the first overall pick and adding one of Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko to the group as well.
If Zetterlund and Maltsev both make the team that would do wonders for them as they will be looking for certain depth. That would also mean they impressed the coaching staff and management enough to make the squad and would be contributors to the team.
The best teams in the NHL are largely built through the draft and both of these players could be an example of that. If they begin their season in the AHL that is okay too, as they will have plenty of time to earn their call ups. This is great news for the Devils organization and it’s fans.