5 NCAA Free Agents New Jersey Devils Should Target Now
The New Jersey Devils need to improve their roster by any means necessary. This includes taking a chance on late bloomers who were passed over in their draft years and signing undrafted free agents to fill out their depth.
By Nick Natale
Every year, players slip through the cracks in the draft. More often than not, a handful of undrafted or unsigned free agents make it to the league and have success. For a brief period, the New Jersey Devils were the beneficiary when they signed Will Butcher out of college. They also went head-to-head with the New York Rangers for Jimmy Vesey's rights nearly a decade ago.
While most of the time undrafted or unsigned fee agents fail to make a major impact at the NHL level, there are occasions where they contribute at the NHL level. In a worst-case scenario, they can help provide depth in the AHL or ECHL.
Recently, the Devils signed undrafted defenseman Mikael Diotte to an entry-level contract. The 6-foot-3, 20-year-old was passed over in the draft and has spent the last four years in the QMJHL with Drummondville. Also, a former undrafted free agent, Brian Halonen, made his NHL debut with the Devils this year. Halonen was signed from Michigan Tech after a tremendous 44-point senior season.
As the Devils championship window begins to creak open, general manager Tom Fitzgerald may have to get creative regarding adding depth players. The chance to compete for depth roles on a team whose Stanley Cup window is opening could be enticing enough to get a player or two to sign. Corey Pronman of The Athletic recently highlighted a bunch of undrafted free agents, so let's take a look at a few who would fit the best with the Devils.