March 25: The Devils announced today they’ve signed Edwards to a two-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2025-26 season. They confirmed he’ll report to Utica for the remainder of the current year.
March 23: Devils prospect Ethan Edwards’ time in college is over. The University of Michigan product won’t be going to the national tournament in his senior year, so he’ll instead be joining New Jersey’s AHL affiliate in Utica for the rest of the 2024-25 season, Ben Birnell of the Utica-Rome Daily Sentinel reports. Whether that’s on an AHL tryout or an NHL contract remains to be seen – an important distinction, given Edwards’ signing rights will expire on Aug. 15 if the Devils don’t get him signed to an entry-level deal by then.
The 22-year-old defender was a fourth-round pick by the Devils (No. 120 overall) back in 2020 out of the Spruce Grove Saints of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The 5’10” lefty jumped south of the border to USHL Sioux City for his post-draft season before jumping on with the Wolverines for 2021-22. Since then, the two-way Edwards has slowly seen his game flourish. Michigan’s top rearguard this season after the departure of fellow Devil Seamus Casey, he took the increased ice time in stride. Edwards’ five goals, 16 assists and 21 points in 36 games this year were all career highs, but his minus-two rating was evidence of the team’s overall regression as Michigan missed out on the nationals for the first time since 2021.
After finishing fourth on the Wolverines in scoring, Edwards will take his talents eastward. He’s an intriguing name in what’s still a rather deep prospect pool on defense in New Jersey, checking in at No. 12 in Scott Wheeler of The Athletic’s 2025 organizational rankings. It’ll likely be a while before he sees an NHL call-up – assuming his AHL stint turns into an ELC with the Devils if he doesn’t sign one now. He’s got enough of a wide-ranging toolbox to make him a valuable depth piece in New Jersey’s lineup if his smaller stature doesn’t become a limiting factor.
If the Devils sign Edwards to an ELC beginning next season, they’ll have 33 of the maximum 50 contracts on the books.