The August 15th deadline for college free agents has come and gone, with six such prospects opting to become unrestricted free agents (though four of them are on AHL contracts).
One player who opted to keep his rights with the team that drafted him was none other than Samu Salminen, who most expected to file the paperwork necessary to become a UFA. He didn't, though, and thus remains a part of the New Jersey Devils organization until he does.
Salminen, now 23, was drafted in the third round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. The 68th overall selection is a cult favorite for a sector of the Devils' fanbase, and for good reason -- he has shown flashes of immense skill at the college level despite his somewhat middling production. In the last two seasons of college play, he put up 28 and 29 points in 44 and 43 games, respectively. In 2025-26, he donned an 'A' for the Denver Pioneers, who won the NCAA title.
It's still unclear where Samu Salminen will play next year after winning the NCAA Championship
Salminen's production has scarcely matched his tools and vision, though that isn't necessarily an indication that he isn't capable of contributing at the least to an AHL lineup. If he were to sign a minor-league deal or entry-level contract right now, he could reasonably slot in anywhere in the bottom nine of the Utica Comets' roster. Salminen is intelligent, has those aforementioned flashes of high-end skill, and is defensively responsible to boot. The 6'3, 205-pound centerman wins most of his draws and plays a physical game as well.
The point is, there's enough of a player there to warrant a minor-league deal at minimum in my estimation, granted it's also possible he extends his college eligibility for another year. Perhaps he wants to run it back with Denver and hone some of the skills that have made him an appealing enough prospect over the years.
At this point in time, the Devils still have control over Salminen and own his rights. Perhaps that results in a minor-league contract as it did with Charlie Leddy (who also did not file the necessary paperwork to become a UFA). Perhaps it results in another year of college hockey. Perhaps it results in an entry-level deal. Perhaps he's simply waiting to hear from another organization that is willing to sign him to some sort of deal before filing the paperwork. Perhaps it's all moot, and he signs in a professional league in Europe. Either way, while his future remains up in the air, the Devils own his rights.
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