The New Jersey Devils have some work to do to revamp their AHL team for the next few years. After a tough season for the Utica Comets, there are prospects in the Devils' system that could really help them in future years. The Devils started that process on Tuesday morning, signing Ethan Edwards to a two-year entry-level contract.
Another Michigan alum has entered the chat.
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) March 25, 2025
We’ve signed Ethan Edwards to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2025-26 season.
📰: https://t.co/gOuMmmayoe pic.twitter.com/qGIeomuDBz
Edwards was fantastic for the Michigan Wolverines this season, taking over as their top defenseman. The Grand Prairie, Alberta native adds depth to the Devils' left side. He finished his Michigan season with 21 points, playing mostly a defensive style looking to stop the opponent from scoring.
Michigan had a disappointing season, ending on the outside looking in of the NCAA Tournament. Edwards' dream of playing in the Frozen Four and winning is now just a memory. He did play in the NCAA Tournament in his freshman, junior, and senior seasons. The two seasons he played with Luke Hughes, he made it to the National Semi-Final.
Edwards once again helped Michigan go to the National Semi-Final last season. In fact, Edwards scored a goal and recorded two assists in the Regional Final against their rivals Michigan State to send them to their third-straight Frozen Four.
New Jersey Devils add championship-level experience with Ethan Edwards
Edwards knows about winning in the regular season, as his Michigan teams were always at the top of the standings. That's something the Devils' 2020 fourth-round pick will bring to Utica that hasn't been there in a while.
He will compete with a stacked blue line full of up-and-coming players. His former teammate Seamus Casey will be a nice sight, and they can play alongside each other again on a line. On the left side, the Devils still have prospects Santeri Hatakka, Topias Vilen, and Colton White. One would assume at least one of them moves on after the season.
For those wondering, Edwards was only eligible for a two-year deal because of his age. While other defensemen like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec can be signed for three-year terms under the current NHL CBA, only players 21 years old and younger are eligible for a three-year deal. Edwards is 22 years old, so he's only eligible for a two-year ELC. (Here's a quick explainer from Puck Pedia.)
He did sign a one-year deal with the Utica Comets, so he's eligible to start playing right away. It's a little loophole GMs have taken advantage of so they don't burn a year off a player's ELC just to have them play in the minor leagues.
Edwards will never be a high scorer, but he has great transition numbers and can get his team out of a jam in the defensive zone. That transition defense will play well if he eventually develops into an NHL defenseman. For now, this is a great addition to the 2025-26 Utica Comets.