Training camp has begun for the New Jersey Devils with on-ice activities starting tomorrow. The Devils announced a 68-man training camp roster that includes just about everyone from rookie camp, veterans, and four PTO players – but not an unsigned Dawson Mercer.
Training camp for the veterans has begun today. Physicals and media sessions are today’s task as practices and workouts begin tomorrow. The New Jersey Devils have announced their training camp roster of 68 players. A roster that is notably missing one (1) Dawson Mercer to keep it from an easy “Nice” reference.
The reason for Mercer not being on the roster is simple: he is not yet signed. Tom Fitzgerald and his staff are still in negotiations with Mercer and his representation. Up until now, this has been a thing to do. With actual on-ice activities starting tomorrow, each day will be a lost day for Mercer to get ready for 2024-25. There have been other RFA signings around the league to ensure players start in camp, such as Dallas signing Thomas Harley to a $4 million deal for two seasons. The Devils still have just over $4.9 million in cap space and all signs are pointing to Mercer and the Devils agreeing to a bridge deal. Clearly, there is some way to go about what that actually looks like. Until a contract is signed, Mercer will not and should not participate in camp and preseason games.
Here is your list of 68 players. Players with a PTO next to them are here on a professional tryout. Players who do not have NHL contracts and are not on a PTO or invited basis (unsigned, AHL-only deals, etc.) have asterisks on their names
Forwards (40): Adam Beckman, Nico Hischier, Stefan Noesen, Nathan Bastian, Shane Bowers, Nathan Legare, Ondrej Palat, Kurtis MacDermid, Timo Meier, Nolan Foote, Joe Gambardella*, Justin Dowling, Mike Hardman, Jack Malone*, Curtis Lazar, Max Willman, Paul Cotter, Brian Halonen, Ryan Schmelzer, Landon Sim (Rookie camp invite), Kasper Pikkarainen*, Erik Haula, Cole Brown*, Chase Stillman, Kevin Labanc (PTO), Jesper Bratt, Xavier Parent*, Jace Isley*, Max Graham*, Dylan Wendt, Filip Engaras*, Andre Ghantous*, Cam Squires, Kevin O’Neil*, Samuel Laberge, Matyas Melovsky*, Tag Bertuzzi*, Jack Hughes, Josh Filmon, Tomas Tatar
Defensemen (20): Brenden Dillon, Dougie Hamilton, Johnathan Kovacevic, Simon Nemec, Brett Pesce, Seamus Casey, Andy Welinski (PTO), Jakub Zboril (PTO), Topias Vilen, Luke Hughes, Colton White, Mikael Diotte, Nick DeSimone, Igor Mburanumwe (Rookie camp invite), Jonas Siegenthaler, Will MacKinnon*, Spencer Sova (Rookie camp invite), Jackson van de Leest*, Santeri Hatakka, Daniil Misyul
Goaltenders (8): Jacob Markstrom, Michael Hutchinson (PTO), Jake Allen, Nico Daws, Tyler Brennan, Isaac Poulter, Jeremy Brodeur*, Zach Pelletier (Rookie camp invite)
As far as the 68 players on the roster, it appears that the vast majority of the rookie camp roster is included with the vets. Josh Filmon, who was held out of the Prospects Challenge, is on the roster. Chase Stillman, who was possibly injured in the Boston game at the Prospects Challenge, is on the roster. Does this mean both will play? That remains to be seen. At a glance, it appears four of their five invited players to their rookie camp are on this training camp roster like Igor Mburanumwe, Zach Pelletier, Landon Sim, and Spencer Sova. Kocha Delic appears to be the lone cut among those five. The three drafted players from 2024 – Max Graham, Matyas Melovsky, Kasper Pikkarainen – are also present among the 68.
For the veterans, I am curious to see Luke Hughes present given that he is definitely going to be out until the end of next month at the earliest given his shoulder injury. Perhaps this is to show that he is present and can be placed on injured reserve when the time comes for that. I am also curious to see Simon Nemec’s status at all. He was hurt during Olympic qualifiers with Slovakia and held out of their final qualification game with injury. If he’s good to go, then great.
Why is the camp roster so large? It is common for NHL camp rosters and preseason rosters to include multiple minor league players to get them ready for their season. Their training camp and preseason is much shorter, running from October 1 to October 10 this year. Utica’s preseason game is on October 4, following right after October 3’s preseason final game for New Jersey. It is a tight turnaround this year because of the Devils’ season opener in Prague, Czechia.
In fact, during the broadcast of the final Prospects Challenge game on Monday morning, Matt Loughlin revealed that the Devils will be traveling overseas on September 29. Thanks to NJ Seagull for picking that up in the Gamethread. This means the Devils’ “dress rehearsal” may actually be the September 27 preseason game – the team’s fourth this year – against the Islanders. Cuts could be determined just based on who is not on the plane and playing Our Hated Rivals and Philadelphia on September 30, October 1, and October 3. What will be interesting to see is whether the Devils can get an exemption to Article 15.4 of the CBA for those games. That is what requires to dress at least eight “veteran” players and the article defines who fits that category. Dowling, Hutchinson, MacDermid, Kovacevic and DeSimone meet it. Recent PTO Kevin Labanc fits it, but PTO Andy Welinski (and Zboril) does not. Maybe the Devils leave eight players behind to meet that and they can reconvene with the Devils after October 5? We shall see. Either way, expect plenty of Utica Comets and PTO players getting minutes in those last three preseason games.
Speaking of minutes, did anyone possibly earn any from the Prospects Challenge? Maybe. Depending on Stillman’s health, he probably should get a closer look than usual. He was one of the better skaters in all three games. Xavier Parent could be playing for a future NHL contract if he gets opportunities in this fall. Isaac Poulter certainly proved that he is the #4 goalie in the system right now and for all we know, he will challenge Nico Daws for #3. I did not think Seamus Casey was exceptional but given Luke Hughes’ injury, I think there will be some consideration for him as a replacement for a bit given how Hatakka, Kovacevic, and DeSimone perform over the next week.
As it is, this is the roster. The practices begin tomorrow. We shall see if Mercer and the Devils come to terms by that first practice at 10:10 AM tomorrow. We shall see if any of the invited players or PTOs work to get a contract. New Jersey has four contract spots remaining assuming Mercer is signed, so it is at least a possibility. As ever, no more injuries! Please let me know what you think of the training camp roster in the comments. Thank you for reading.