New Jersey Devils: Ranking Likelihood Each PTO Makes Roster

The New Jersey Devils signed four players to professional tryout contracts, better known as PTOs. Jimmy Vesey comes to the Devils after a pretty poor season where he originally signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he was claimed off waivers late in the season by the Vancouver Canucks. He finished the season with 5 goals in 50 games and only added another 5 assists.

Mark Jankowski signed with the Devils after spending last season in Pittsburgh. After putting up a promising 32 points in his second full season in Calgary, he put up two straight mediocre seasons. He put up 11 points in 45 games with the Penguins, and his overall game just took a step back. He’s still 27 years old, so there is hope he can turn it around.

One of the biggest surprises was the signing of Tyler Wotherspoon. He’s a left-handed defenseman who hasn’t played in the NHL since 2017. He’s been in the AHL for the past four and a half seasons.

Frederik Gauthier once had a lot of hope behind his career. He’s a former 1st-round pick that just never seemed to find a regular spot in the lineup. After the Toronto Maple Leafs took him in 2013, he spent small parts of the next six seasons in the NHL. He was given two actual shots in the league in 2018-19 and 2019-20. He had a total of 131 games but only put up 26 points total.

Which New Jersey Devils PTO has the best shot at making the team?

1. Jimmy Vesey

Vesey had a great scrimmage over the weekend where he scored a goal and added two assists while playing with Tyce Thompson and Michael McLeod. Head coach Lindy Ruff gave him an NHL player to pair with, and it proved vital in this performance. Vesey was the most impressive player in the scrimmage which included Nico Hischier on his own team. Vesey was also the name on the headlines when the Devils signed him to his PTO. This is a player who knows he is trying to turn his career around. If the early indications of camp show anything, he’s most likely than not to make the team.

Chances he makes Devils opening night roster: 75%

2. Mark Jankowski

One of the clearest open spots is at the center position. It’s the competition that is getting the most attention right now. Pavel Zacha is testing himself at the center position. He’s tried this before. Dawson Mercer and Jesper Boqvist are young guys that will get a shot to take that position. However, Mark Jankowski was brought into training camp to fight for that spot as well. He did not make as much noise during the scrimmage as Vesey. He was paired with Alexander Holtz and Joe Gambardella. This isn’t an NHL line, obviously, so this might give us some insight into what Ruff is thinking here. Jankowski has an uphill battle ahead of him.

Chances he makes Devils opening night roster: 30%

3. Frederik Gauthier

This one took some people by surprise when he was signed, but a few days after the original PTOs, the Devils signed Frederik Gauthier to a PTO, bringing the total number of tryouts to four. He got a late start to New Jersey, but he should have the same time with the coach. It was weird that on the original lines he was listed as an extra. That makes it very hard for him to make an impact if he doesn’t get a chance to build chemistry with anyone. He has a few weeks to change that, but he also might get cut before he ever has any real shot.

Chances he makes Devils opening night roster: 10%

4. Tyler Wotherspoon

Tyler Wotherspoon is not making the Devils. The former 2nd-round pick is playing defense on a team that already has Ty Smith, Ryan Graves, Jonas Siegenthaler, and Kevin Bahl. That is on top of some other long shots. The Devils would have to have multiple injuries for Wotherspoon to get a real shot. So, why did the Devils sign Wotherspoon in the first place? Maybe it’s to give the Devils a look at some players who could play in Utica. This is a training camp for the Devils organization.

Chances he makes Devils opening night roster: 2%