New Jersey Devils: 5 Players At Prospect Camp That Can Turn Heads

3. Samu Salminen – Jokerit

We’ve heard a lot about Samu Salminen over the last year. The Devils selected Salminen in the third round of the NHL Draft last year. Most prospect experts loved the pick, especially since the Devils got him in the third round.

He’s taking a much different path than most European players. Instead of trying to find a place in the Finnish League, Salminen decided the best route to making the NHL would be the American college route. He’s signed on to play with the iconic University of Denver, home of nine men’s hockey championships including one just a few months ago. They eliminated Luke Hughes and his Michigan Wolverines prior to making the run.

Salminen is looking to find a rotation spot right off the bat, and if he acclimates himself to the North American game fast, he could adjust very quickly. He’d be one of the more talented forwards in the NCAA, and he could quickly get into the top ten of prospects for the New Jersey Devils overall.

Salminen looks like he could be a phenomenal forward with the right development. He took a different path, hoping it would quickly lead to an NHL career. Time will tell what he might be, but this week we’ll learn what he is now. Something tells me we will be impressed.