Mason Geertsen
This is a surprise even for us. We thought there would be no way the Devils would continue to sign up for the Mason Geertsen experience beyond his last contract. The Devils were stuck with him on the NHL roster in 2021-22 because someone would claim him off waivers. Last season, the Devils were able to get Geertsen to the Utica Comets.
He was… actually useful with the Comets last season. Sure, he’s on hockey teams to fight and cause chaos. He did plenty of that, with 136 penalty minutes in 61 games. Yet, he also scored four goals and had four assists. Okay, that sounds terrible, but it’s the most he’s had in years.
Geertsen is getting older, and his impacts are diminishing. Still, he had a clear role in Utica. He was a fan favorite, and he definitely was a social media favorite. There aren’t many options to use him on the NHL level, but Tom Fitzgerald clearly likes him. That’s why he jumped through so many hoops to keep him on the roster.
It’ll be a weird negotiation. Will the Devils bring him back? Will he get another shot with the NHL team? There’s a lot to be worked out. We’re not saying this is Fitzgerald’s biggest decision, but it’s probably higher on his to-do list than most would suspect.