After the more significant signings of Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, and Stefan Noesen, the New Jersey Devils made two signings more for Utica. Center Mike Hardman and returning defenseman Colton White were each signed to two-way contracts for two seasons.
After the dust settled on the major signings of the day by the New Jersey Devils, the team inked two two-way contracts that will likely be more for Utica than New Jersey. First, the Devils signed former Rockford IceHog and brief Chicago Blackhawk center Mike Hardman to a two-way contract for two seasons. Hardman will make the NHL league minimum when he is up with New Jersey and $350,000 with Utica. The second is a return. The Devils brought back defenseman Colton White to a two-way, two season contract of his own. He will make the league minimum with the NHL, $250,000 with Utica next season, and $275,000 with Utica in 2026-27.
From the perspective of the New Jersey Devils, both are depth signings. Hardman has played all of 37 NHL games in his career with his last 8 games coming in the 2022-23 season. Devils assistant coach Jeremy Colliton is aware of him, but the IceHogs know him much better. He has played 164 games with the AHL affiliate over the past three seasons. The number of games does matter for Hardman. In the AHL, there is a development rule for all rosters in a game. Of the 18 skaters, at least 13 must be “development players” which is defined as 12 players with 260 or fewer professional games and one player with 320 or fewer professional games. Whether that is NHL, AHL, or European elite leagues, it counts. This count is established at the start of the season. This is all to say that Hardman has 201 games under his belt and so he qualifies as a “development player” for one more season. He can suit up as much as Kevin Dineen wishes for Utica. (Aside: This is a good exercise to run through once the offseason takes place.)
How will Hardman perform? He did have 22 goals for Rockford last season, but also never had more than 40 points in an AHL season. Like Adam Beckman before him, I am not expecting a ton from a production standpoint. He could just need the different environment than he got in Rockford, though. Hardman will be there to help the center depth on the Comets at least. He joins an experienced group of Justin Dowling, Ryan Schmelzer, Shane Bowers, and Sam Laberge.
For Colton White, originally drafted by the Devils in 2015 and was in the organization until 2022, he has more NHL games under his belt. He suited up for 27 Devils games in 2021-22 and 46 for Anaheim in 2022-23. He put up four and six assists in both, respectively. However, after a 53-game season with the San Diego Gulls (1 goal, 7 assists), he is up to 254 AHL games alone in his career. Add in the 84 NHL games and he is a veteran with 338 pro games. This is likely expected. Tyler Wotherspoon was the Utica’s veteran on defense for the last three seasons. It does not appear he will remain with the organization. This allows White to slot in on a blueline that will include, at a minimum, Santeri Hatakka, Daniil Misyul, Seamus Casey, Mikael Diotte, and Topias Vilen.
These are the kind of NHL deals that are not going to grab headlines but do carry value within the organization. Not only does it make White and Hardman available for call-ups, it establishes the rosters set for Utica. Again, the pro rule means Dineen and his staff may have to juggle some players around. That is common for the AHL, though.
Unless GM Tom Fitzgerald makes a bigger splash late tonight, these two signings effectively end the Devils’ active first day of free agency for 2024. A summary for the evening is coming. Please leave your thoughts about Hardman joining the organization, White returning to it, and other Utica-related thoughts in the comments. Thank you for reading.