Studenic Inked to Entry-Level Deal

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.”

Devils Ink Seney to Entry-Level Deal

The Devils announced today via a press release on their website that the team has “signed forward Brett Seney to a two-year, entry-level contract.” The release says that the contract will kick in next season (2018-19).

Seney, the Devils’ fifth pick in the 2015 NHL Draft, 157th overall, is a 22-year-old native of London, Ontario who has played the last four years with Merrimack College of Hockey East. The release says that “he will sign an AHL Amateur Try-Out Agreement and report to the Binghamton Devils” today (March 17).

The press release gives some of his college career highlights, stating that he completed his “career ranking 12th overall among all active Division I players with 42 goals, 73 assists for 115 points in 139 games.” He was a 2018 Hockey East Third All-Star Team member “during his senior season with a career-high 32 points, his second consecutive 30 point campaign.” He led Merrimack with 13 goals and 19 points this past season. He also ranked seventh in Hockey East in points, tied for ninth in goals and was fifth in power play points (18) and fifth in power play goals (seven).

The 5-foot, 10-inch, 175 pound left shooting forward “shared or led Merrimack in points in each of his four seasons.” He was “sixth overall in the nation among active Division I players with 11 career game-winning goals.”

The Devils are probably hoping they have found another gem in the later rounds of the NHL Draft, a la Jesper Bratt. Seney had a good career playing in a top NCAA conference in Hockey East. Hopefully that translates well to the NHL and everything works out for him and the Devils. Also, it is good to see the Devils lock up an NCAA prospect without him going to free agency as we have seen so often with players like the Rangers’ Jimmy Vesey or the Devils’ own Will Butcher. Another prospect to develop in the system is always good for the parent team.