The Devils have locked up another draft pick to an entry-level deal. Marian Studenic, taken 143rd overall (fifth round) in the 2017 NHL Draft, has been signed for the 2018-19 season.
The 19-year-old forward played the last two years with the Ontario Hockey League’s Hamilton Bulldogs. According to the Devils’ press release on their website, the Bulldogs just finished up their first round defeat of the Ottawa 67’s four games to one on Friday. The release says that Studenic had two assists in the series as Hamilton moved to the next round of the OHL playoffs.
In the regular season, Studenic notched 20 goals and 28 assists totaling 48 points according to the press release. That came in 62 games where he was also a plus-24. He ranked fourth in total points, goals and assists on the team – as per the press release and was second on the team in plus/minus rating.
As for a scouting report, the release said that the 6-foot, 165-pounder “played in all situations, scoring 12 power play points (4g-8a) and tying for second on the team with two short-handed tallies.” It said that last season, he had 18 goals, 12 assists for 30 points and 23 penalty minutes in the regular season. He also had two goals and a pair of assists for four points in the OHL playoffs in 2016-17, where he played seven games as Hamilton was ousted by the Kingston Frontenacs in a seven game series.
Internationally, the native of Holic, Slovakia has played in the last two World Junior Championships. He played youth hockey in Slovakia “with the HK Dukla Trencin and HK 36 Skalica programs.”