Devils’ Roster for Prospects Challenge Revealed

The Devils’ PR team released the team’s roster for the 2021 Prospects Challenge. The Challenge will take place this Friday through Sunday at the LECOM Harborcenter in Buffalo.

The participating teams will be the host Sabres, the Devils and the Boston Bruins. The Devils will face Buffalo on Friday at 7 PM and Boston on Sunday at 1 PM. The “games will be streamed on newjerseydevils.com in promotional partnership with MSG Networks.”

The Devils will bring 23 players up to Western New York (13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies). The press release notes that three players who have NHL experience will suit up for the Devils: Nolan Foote, Kevin Bahl and Tyce Thompson as well as four first-round picks from the Draft (Alexander Holtz, Chase Stillman, Dawson Mercer and Foote – who was chosen by the Tampa Bay Lightning).

The press release notes that Bahl, Jeremy Groleau and Fabian Zetterlund will be the alternate captains for the Devils.

The forwards are Holtz, Thompson, Mercer, Foote, Graeme Clarke, Patrick Grasso, Tyler Irvine, Jordan Kaplan, Nate Schnarr, Luke Stevens, Stillman, Aarne Talvitie and Zetterlund. The blueliners include Reilly Walsh, Bahl, Groleau, Zach Biggar, Joe Masonius, Nikita Okhotiuk and Michael Vukojevic. The goaltenders are Nico Daws, Mareks Mitens and Akira Schmid.

We will try to get you coverage of the tournament right here this weekend.

Devils Announce 2017-18 Opening Night Roster

The Devils today announced via a press release on their official website just who made the team out of training camp and will open the season with them on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.

The team will carry two goalies, eight defensemen and thirteen forwards. The press release notes that “eight of those 23 players did not play a game (for) New Jersey last season.”

As expected, Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid will man the crease for the Devils this year. Defensemen include captain Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, John Moore, Dalton Prout, Steven Santini and Damon Severson. The two newcomers on the blue line are Will Butcher and Mirco Mueller (who both had a great camp for the team).

Up front, Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, Stefan Noesen, Kyle Palmieri, Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha all return while Jesper Bratt, Blake Coleman, Brian Gibbons, Jimmy Hayes, 2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier, Marcus Johansson and Drew Stafford will make their Devils opening night debuts.

The press release also notes that the Devils have “three players designated injured, non-roster players.” These are Brian Boyle, Michael McLeod and Travis Zajac.

In addition, Joseph Blandisi, Nick Lappin, John Quenneville and defenseman Brian Strait were all assigned to the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League.

Again, the Devils open up the 2017-18 season at home against the Avalanche this coming Saturday, October 7. Puck drop is 2 PM with the team’s red carpet ceremony beginning at 11 AM. The first 9,000 fans in attendance will get a special 35th anniversary patch. I will be attending the game and will have a recap here on the site as soon as possible.