While the season may have been bad overall, the New Jersey Devils are slowly but surely finding some reasons to head into the 2026 offseason with optimism.
Prospects Lenni Hameenaho and Arseny Gritsyuk have been impactful, and it seems Nico Daws and Topias Vilen will get NHL opportunities as well. And there's one more youngster who is about to insert himself into that conversation.
On Saturday night, Devils prospect Samu Salminen, playing in the NCAA for the University of Denver, won the NCAA championship, helping defeat the University of Wisconsin 2-1 in the Frozen Four final.
Salminen, who celebrated his 23rd birthday on Thursday, finished his fourth NCAA season with a career-high 11 goals and 29 assists while wearing the 'A' for Denver for the first time.
Now, it's worth noting that the time is ticking for the Devils to sign the Finn, as they have until Aug. 15 to sign Salminen before losing his rights. They could still sign the 2021 third-round pick after that date, but the other 31 NHL teams will be free to sign him as well.
The Devils' NHL season ends on Tuesday, so it is plausible but unlikely that they throw Salminen into one NHL game and get him under contract. Not having a general manager, however, may throw a wrinkle into things.
Samu Salminen wins the NCAA Championship with the University of Denver
Another thing to note regarding Salminen is the fact that he can only sign a two-year, entry-level contract with the Devils, since he was 22 years old at the start of the season (Sept. 15). If the 23-year-old signs now, he'll burn a year off the deal, even without playing the NHL.
The Devils may consider signing him to a tryout to play in the AHL with the Utica Comets and/or starting his entry-level contract with the 2026-27 season.
Very little has been reported on the Devils' side of things and the player's side of things regarding a contract and his future with the club, but for now, Salminen gets to relish being an NCAA champion.