Last season, the New Jersey Devils took chances on some former high-end talents to bolster their depth. Tom Fitzgerald went the route of boom or bust for the Utica Comets. It’s not a bad strategy, as just one breakout player could change the Devils’ fortunes. That’s why they went after names like Angus Crookshank, Thomas Bordeleau, and Mike Hardman. The most interesting name they added was Calen Addison.
Addison was pretty good for the Comets last season, but he was never given an NHL chance. Eleven defensemen got at least one game for the Devils last season, including Colton White, Topias Vilen, and Dennis Cholowski, who played 17 games. Yet, Addison didn’t make it over the hump for the Devils.Â
This offseason, Addison didn’t get the right North American interest, and now, he’s headed overseas. Reports state that he signed with the Shanghai Dragons, the Chinese team in the KHL.Â
Sport-Express’ Artur Khairullin reports that D Calen Addison is expected to sign with the Shanghai Dragons in the KHL.
— The Mug NHL (@TheMugNHL) August 10, 2026
This means that pretty much every bet that Fitzgerald made with the Comets is gone. They lost Bordeleau in the trade for Nick Bjugstad. Crookshank was lost in the trade for Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. Hardman remains a free agent, but it’s unlikely he’ll return. And now, Addison is heading to China to continue his hockey career.Â
Addison was great for the Comets last season, putting up 31 points in 65 games. Of course, there were bigger issues than an offensive defenseman in Utica, but it was good to see someone thriving offensively. However, it didn’t help him get another job.
The Devils have seen their fair share of former prospects leave for the KHL. They’ve even seen tweener AHL-NHL players leave, with big names like Ty Smith and Janne Kuokkanen seeing the writing on the wall and extending their careers in Europe and Russia. Addison is the latest player who is just not quite good enough for the NHL try his hand at KHL hockey.
It makes sense on paper. While the KHL travel schedule can be brutal from a pure miles standpoint, there is money behind the league, and the travel accommodations have to be better than what he was dealing with in the AHL. There’s an understanding across the league that traveling with the NHL team is a lap of luxury with private jets and five-star meals. The AHL travel schedule is brutal, with mostly bus travel.Â
Addison is a loss for Utica, but Sunny Mehta and Brandon Birch have been working to upgrade the Comets’ roster. Addison apparently just didn’t fit in that vision.
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