With the full training camp beginning later this week and preseason following day after, it is a reasonable time for an annual look at which New Jersey Devils players are exempt for waivers for 2024-25. No, Santeri Hatakka is not exempt.
It is basically a tradition at this point where training camp has begun for some that I highlight which players on the New Jersey Devils are exempt from waivers for the following season. This is valuable information for fans to understand that waivers can restrict a player’s movement. Waiver eligibility can be a reason why some players are pretty much locks to be sent to Utica at some point in preseason and in the regular season, and also why some are set for the New Jersey roster.
There are three key contributing factors in a player’s waiver status: what age they were when the player signed their first NHL contract, how many seasons they have been under contract, and how many games – regular season and playoffs – have they played. It has nothing to do with their contract being one-way or two-way. It has nothing to do with when they were drafted or how many games they dressed for, which impacts their training camp attendance. It is all about how old they were when they first signed a contract, how many seasons they have been signed, and how many times they appeared in game.
The full details of those three factors is defined in Article 13 of the NHL Contract Bargaining Agreement, which covers waivers and loans (this is what the CBA calls it) to minor league teams. Specifically, Article 13.4 defines the how long waiver exemptions go for both goalies and skaters. It also includes the “slide rule” for 18 and 19 year old players who do not play in 11 or more games. It even covers some examples to explain it. For this post, I will highlight which Devils are exempt and who just lost their status.
Last year, the Devils had 14 players in their system who were exempt from waivers. This meant they could be sent down to Utica at any time without any delay or consequence. Of those 14, three of them have become eligible for waivers with this season: Santeri Hatakka, Graeme Clarke, and Michael Vukojevic. The latter two are not even in the New Jersey Devils organization anymore. (And two others are gone from the list too.) However, Hatakka is impacted by this change in status. Hatakka would need to go through waivers to be sent down to Utica. This means he is available for all of the other 31 teams in the league for up to 24 hours. If he is not claimed, then he can report to Utica. If he is, then that team acquires Hatakka. The Devils get nothing in return. Again, this is why waiver status is important to keep up with. (This is also why a lot of cuts happen around the league, almost to “mask” someone being on waivers that otherwise would stick out if done on their own.)
Fortunately, there are 16 players in the organization right now who are waiver exempt. Most of them will likely stay exempt through the season. Thanks to CapWages for their waiver calculator, which I used to help confirm the numbers in alignment with Article 13 of the CBA.
CapWages Waiver Calculator
Yes, Ryan Schmelzer is on this list. He signed a two-way, two-season contract with the Devils way back in April and it is his first NHL contract. He has one (1) game or one (1) season of an exception. Should New Jersey get him into one game, then he has to go through waivers to be returned to Utica. Even if he never plays in New Jersey in 2024-25, he will require waivers next season. This is true for any goaltender or skater aged 25 or over should they sign a NHL contract.
The age at the time of signing is also a factor. That plus the slide rule allows Chase Stillman to enjoy five seasons of not having to go through waivers instead of four or less by other prospects. You can also see that between Seamus Casey and Cam Squires. As well as Dylan Wendt compared with other recent signings. It also shows that Isaac Poulter being signed during last season also used up one of his exempt seasons.
Among the players at risk of losing their exemption during the 2024-25 season, there is Schmelzer, Nico Daws, and Luke Hughes. Schmelzer has been covered. I will be surprised if he gets in a Devils game. Daws is currently the #3 goalie on the depth chart on paper. I can see him getting into games, but 15 of them? That would mean something bad happened to Jakob Markstrom or Jake Allen – which is certainly not a good thing. It is possible still and it could make goalie management tricky due to exposing a goalie. For now, it is no issue. Just something to keep in mind during this coming season. Luke Hughes would have to play nearly the entire 2024-25 season to lose his exemption – which is possible as well. (Update: I wrote this before Luke Hughes’ injury was announced so 73 games would need to include the playoffs. Possible but unlikely.) I do not think Luke Hughes will ever go back to Utica outside of a conditioning assignment. The risks are really for the other two.
There are some other players at risk, but at a really low risk. Among them is Simon Nemec. Simon Nemec would only lose it if he plays in all 82 games and at least 18 playoff games. Which, at that point, I do not think anyone will mind. Nemec is well beyond Utica after last season’s experience. Still, I think he loses it in 2025-26 instead. By the remaining games played, Brian Halonen, Daniil Misyul, Isaac Poulter, Mikael Diotte, and Dylan Wendt could all lose it during this upcoming season in theory. That would require them to play a lot for New Jersey. Which also requires making the Devils. Far from a guarantee in this season. Before you comment about Jakub Malek, the plan is for him to stay in Liiga for this season, which he is doing.
All together, there is not a ton of risk here within this coming season. I do not think Luke Hughes (and Simon Nemec) will ever need to go to Utica beyond conditioning or a paper move. Their status for waivers is moot. After 2024-25, Daws and Halonen will become eligible for waivers for sure. Knowing Daws is signed for next season, this may be a rather obvious sign that the organization is planning on him becoming the #2 for 2025-26. Which will require Daws to earn that opportunity in this season. Beyond them, the others are going to represent the flexibility the team has with respect to sending players down without risk of losing them. Something that does not apply anymore to Santeri Hatakka, who will have to battle hard to be anything but the #9 defenseman in the organization. This is exactly what training camp and preseason will help decide.
Now that you know the 16 Devils who are waiver exempt and how long their exemptions will last, I want to know what you think. Does this impact who sticks with New Jersey for 2024-25? Will Hatakka be exposed to waivers by the end of preseason, meaning he is intended to be sent down? Will Daws make the most of his final season of waiver exemption? Please leave your thoughts about waivers, who does and does not have exempt status, and more in the comments. Thank you for reading.