New Devils in New Numbers

Sam Kasan of the Devils’ official app is reporting that several new additions to the Devils’ roster will be wearing new numbers when they take the ice this October.

Defenseman Dougie Hamilton will be wearing number 7, a change from his number 19 with Carolina last season. He wore number 27 in both Boston and Calgary, but that was obviously out here in New Jersey with it being retired in honor of Scott Niedermayer. Some notable blueliners who have worn number 7 for the Devils include Paul Martin and Alexei Kasatonov

Likewise, Ryan Graves wore 27 in Colorado, but will wear number 33 with the Devils next year.

Christian Jaros will wear number 83 as per Kasan. Rookie goalies Nico Daws (50) and Akira Schmid (40) will be in new numbers. Free agent goalie Jonathan Bernier will wear number 45 here as he did in Detroit last season.

Newly acquired Chase DeLeo will suit up in number 47, Brian Flynn will wear 46, Joe Gambardella will wear number 36 and Robbie Russo will wear number 37.

Schmid Named USHL’s Outstanding Goalie

Amanda Stein is reporting on the Devils’ official blog that goalie Akira Schmid, who recently signed his Entry Level Contract with the Devils, has been named the United States Hockey League’s Goaltender of the Year.

He played 2020-21 with the Sioux City Musketeers and had a record of “22 wins, 13 losses, and one overtime loss in 36 games.” He finished the season with a 2.01 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. Stein also said that “his three shutouts tied him as the league leader.”

In the playoffs, he went 2-2-0 in the Clark Cup Playoffs, but he Musketeers were eliminated in the first round of the postseason by the Omaha Lancers – his former USHL team who traded him to Sioux City in the 2019-20 season. He finished the playoffs with a .920 save percentage and a 2.28 goals against average.

Stein mentioned that the Bern, Switzerland-native played three seasons in the USHL, appearing “in 86 games with a .918 save percentage. He has a record of 43-33-4 and six career shutouts.”

He inked his ELC with New Jersey on May 17, 2021. Stein said that he was taken “in the fifth round, of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft by” the Devils.