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Brian Halonen

Devils Recall Brian Halonen

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The Devils are recalling winger Brian Halonen from AHL Utica for the second time this month, per the NHL’s media site (h/t James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now). He’ll take up New Jersey’s vacant spot on the active roster and take a league-minimum-sized bite out of their $2.9MM in current cap space, per PuckPedia.

Halonen’s first recall lasted four days and resulted in his first NHL appearance since last April. He logged a minus-one rating and two shot attempts in 11:35 of ice time against the Flyers on Jan. 18 while filling in for a Devils forward group dealing with an illness.

This time around, his recall comes as insurance for a potentially injured Nico Hischier. The New Jersey captain left Saturday’s game against the Canadiens and did not return and is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed injury. If he can’t play tonight against Philly, Halonen will likely draw in for his second game of the season and his fourth career NHL appearance.

While the 6’0″ winger has just three NHL games under his belt, he’s making a name for himself as a high-end scoring threat at the AHL level. Signed as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan Tech in 2022, the 26-year-old Halonen is on pace for a career-high 30 goals in the minors this season after breaking out for 20 in only 35 appearances in 2023-24. He’s totaled 54 goals and 32 assists for 86 points in 138 games since debuting for the Comets to end the 2021-22 campaign. He’s continued the momentum that convinced New Jersey to sign him after a 21-goal, 44-point senior season at Michigan Tech that made him a Hobey Baker Award finalist.

Halonen remains waiver-exempt this season, so he won’t land on the wire when his latest recall is over. He signed a two-year, two-way extension last May, so he isn’t set to become a free agent until the summer of 2026.

Morning Notes: Halonen, White, Smith

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The New Jersey Devils have reassigned forward Brian Halonen and defenseman Colton White to the AHL’s Utica Comets. Both players served as extras for the team’s last few games. White didn’t step into the lineup at all during his three-day recall, while Halonen appeared in one game during his four days on the NHL roster.

Both players have served at the top of Utica’s lineup for the majority of the season. Halonen is leading the team in goals (13) and tied for the lead in points (21) through 31 games. White has also been productive, with 11 points in 26 games ranking him third on the blue-line in scoring behind Seamus Casey and Simon Nemec. Despite that, neither player has cracked into a routine NHL role. Halonen has earned the first three NHL games of his career between this season and last, though he’s still searching for his first point. White has 84 career NHL games and 10 points, but hasn’t played in the top league since 2022-23. With this move, the duo will return to fighting for a full-time move to the top flight with strong play in the minors.

Across the Metropolitan Division, the Carolina Hurricanes have once again assigned defenseman Ty Smith to the AHL, per NHL.com’s Walt Ruff. Smith has bounced between rosters all season long. He’s ultimately appeared scored two points in eight NHL games, and 10 points in 13 AHL games on the season. Smith has continued to be productive in the minor leagues, after being 43 points in 63 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton last season. He’s still a swing away from a routine NHL role, especially behind a loaded Hurricanes defense.

Devils Recall Brian Halonen

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The Devils announced that winger Brian Halonen has been recalled from AHL Utica. There was no corresponding move since New Jersey had an open roster spot, and their active roster is now full.

This is the first time this season Halonen has been summoned from the minors after inking a two-year, two-way contract extension last May. He still needs one more professional season under his belt to require waivers, so he was sent down to Utica near the end of training camp without incident.

Halonen comes up to serve as an extra forward with Stefan Noesen unavailable for tonight’s game against the Maple Leafs due to illness, the team said. Erik Haula has also been ruled out with his ankle sprain and is still a ways away from returning, although he remains on the active roster. Halonen will likely sit in the press box while enforcer Kurtis MacDermid slots in at wing instead of defense.

The 26-year-old Halonen has played 31 games for Utica this season, leading the club with 13 goals and tying for the team lead with 21 points. The undrafted free agent signing out of Michigan Tech back in 2022 made his NHL debut last season across a pair of appearances, recording two shots on goal and two hits in 16:34 of total ice time. He hasn’t gotten a real opportunity to flash any offensive upside at the NHL level, but he has been a valuable contributor throughout his time in Utica with 83 points through 135 career AHL games.

As for Noesen, it’s a brief blip in an otherwise fantastic season for the veteran winger. In his second go-around in the Garden State, the 31-year-old has already set a new career-high in goals with 17 through 45 games. The Devils pried him away from the Hurricanes on the open market last summer with a three-year, $8.25MM contract that so far looks like a worthy investment.

Devils Re-Sign Brian Halonen, Samuel Laberge

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The Devils re-signed depth winger Brian Halonen to a two-year, two-way deal on Thursday, per a team announcement. His extension will cost $775K against the cap when he’s on the NHL roster. New Jersey also inked forward Samuel Laberge to a one-year, two-way extension worth $775K in the NHL.

Halonen, 25, was set to be a restricted free agent this summer after completing his entry-level contract. His new deal carries no signing bonuses and will pay him $175K at the AHL level in 2024-25 and $275K in 2025-26, a raise over the $80K minors salary he earned on his rookie pact. The extension walks him to unrestricted free agency in 2026.

Laberge, meanwhile, turned 27 last month and would have become a UFA this summer if he didn’t re-sign in Jersey. He’ll net $120K at the AHL level next season with a $135K guarantee, per the team.

In inking both to extensions, general manager Tom Fitzgerald will squeeze some more value out of a pair of undrafted free agent signings. Halonen joined the team back in March 2022 after a standout senior season at Michigan Tech, taking home CCHA First All-Star Team honors while leading the Huskies in scoring with 21 goals and 44 points in 37 games.

The Minnesota native took a while to get going last season while on assignment to AHL Utica, struggling to get on the scoresheet much before a brief demotion to ECHL Adirondack in December. He played just one game with Adirondack, posting an assist, before being recalled back to Utica and finishing the season on a tear. He finished 2022-23 with 17 goals and 30 points in 57 games, ranking eighth on the Comets in scoring.

The gifted sniper was limited to 35 games with Utica this season due to injuries, but he more than earned his extension after potting 20 goals to finish second on the team despite playing in less than half of their 72-game schedule. With injuries plaguing the Devils in the latter half of the season, he received his first two NHL recalls down the stretch, making a lone appearance each time. He was used sparingly, though, averaging 8:17 across the pair of games while managing two shots on goal and two hits.

Laberge had been on minor-league contracts with Utica since the 2021-22 campaign but didn’t land an NHL contract until signing with the Devils a couple of months into this season. The 6’2″, 205-lb forward can play center and both wings and has been a solid bottom-six checking forward for the Comets over the past few seasons, totaling 19 goals and 48 points in 155 games with 199 PIMs and a +10 rating. The former captain of the QMJHL’s Rimouski Océanic is entering his eighth professional season.

Like Halonen, Laberge also made his NHL debut this season with a two-game trial. He recorded three hits in just 6:12 of total ice time across a pair of contests he played in November and December, shortly after landing a contract with New Jersey.

Both are likely destined to start 2024-25 in Utica. Halonen still has one season of professional service or 58 NHL games before he requires waivers, but Laberge will no longer be waiver-exempt and will need to hit the wire during the preseason to head to the minors. With the pair of signings, the Devils are now up to 33 out of the maximum 50 standard player contracts on the books next season.

Devils Reassign Brian Halonen, Akira Schmid

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The Devils announced multiple roster moves today, namely that winger Brian Halonen and goaltender Akira Schmid were assigned to AHL Utica. No corresponding transaction is coming for Schmid, who was up while Kaapo Kähkönen was sidelined with an undisclosed injury yesterday against the Maple Leafs. Halonen’s roster spot goes to right-wing prospect Graeme Clarke, who was recalled from Utica.

Halonen had been on the Devils’ roster longer than Schmid, coming up on an emergency loan over two weeks ago. Both have spent decent chunks of the season in the minors – Schmid made the Devils out of camp but has been in Utica for the most part since being demoted in late December. This was Halonen’s second recall of the season and Schmid’s fourth.

Halonen’s season began late, remaining on season-opening injured reserve until Dec. 30 with a lower-body injury. The free agent signing out of Michigan Tech two years ago has been spectacular with Utica since returning, scoring 16 goals in only 30 games. He’s only gotten into two NHL contests this season and has played sparingly when in the lineup, though, averaging 8:17 and failing to record a point with two shots on goal. He’s put up decent possession numbers at even strength (45 CF% and 58.5 xGF%, per MoneyPuck), but it’s hard to gauge anything with such a small sample.

The 23-year-old Schmid has taken a tumble this season, struggling no matter where he’s played after a strong postseason showing in 2023. In the majors, he’s put up a 5-9-1 record with a .895 SV% and 3.15 GAA in 15 starts and four relief appearances and posted save percentages south of .900 in each of his two NHL starts since his December demotion. His numbers have been no different with Utica, posting a .891 SV%, 3.12 GAA, one shutout, and an 8-8-4 record in 20 appearances. The pending RFA may still earn a qualifying offer after his 2022-23 showing, posting a .922 SV% in 18 NHL appearances, but he’s unlikely to be considered for the backup job in training camp this fall.

With the Devils now eliminated from playoff contention, the 22-year-old Clarke gets a chance to build on his NHL debut, which came in January. The older brother of Kings rookie Brandt Clarke gets his second recall of the season after leading Utica thus far with 24 goals, totaling 47 points in 64 games. He logged a +1 rating, one shot attempt, and one hit back in January against his brother’s squad while logging 9:32. The 2019 third-round pick is a pending RFA upon completion of his entry-level deal.

Devils Notes: Hamilton, Bastian, Siegenthaler, Halonen

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Devils interim head coach Travis Green spoke with reporters today, including Ryan Novozinsky of NJ Advance Media, to provide an update on a pair of injured players.  He indicated that it’s unlikely that Dougie Hamilton will return at all this season.  Hamilton had surgery to repair a torn pectoral muscle a little less than four months ago and is currently on LTIR.  Since the Devils primarily sold at the deadline, they could easily have gotten back into cap compliance to activate the veteran if he was able to return.

Meanwhile, the news is a little better for winger Nathan Bastian.  Green indicated there is a chance that the 26-year-old could return from an upper-body injury that has caused him to miss a little more than a month.  Bastian has a dozen points along with 143 hits in 54 games so far this season.

More from New Jersey:

  • Defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler took part in practice today as he works his way back from an upper-body injury, mentions team reporter Amanda Stein (Twitter link). He has missed more than two weeks with this latest ailment, one that came just a few weeks after missing 16 games with a foot issue.  Siegenthaler has been limited to just nine points through 49 games so far but as a second-pairing player, New Jersey would certainly like to get him back in the lineup sooner than later.
  • Brian Halonen’s daily transactions tour continues. Per the AHL’s transactions log, the forward has been recalled to New Jersey’s roster today after being sent down yesterday.  This is his third recall since Wednesday.  The 25-year-old made his NHL debut last month, his only appearance at the top level so far.  Meanwhile, with Utica, he has fared well with 16 goals and eight assists in just 30 games.  He’s in the final year of his entry-level contract.

Devils Recall Forward Brian Halonen

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The New Jersey Devils have recalled forward Brian Halonen from the Utica Comets of the AHL. The timing of Halonen’s recall could be an indication that Devils forwards Kurtis MacDermid or Curtis Lazar may not be available tonight when the Devils face the Toronto Maple Leafs, however, both players were on the ice with the team for their morning skate today and Lazar is likely to play. Devils’ reporter Amanda Stein also tweeted that Halonen’s callup could be insurance at forward in case a forward can’t go tonight.

Halonen has seen NHL action already this season as the Delano, Minnesota native made his NHL debut on February 25th against the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 25-year-old registered a single shot in just under 10 minutes of ice time and was able to force a takeaway. He didn’t look out of place on the NHL ice; however, the Devils sheltered his minutes and gave him the bulk of his zone starts in the offensive zone.

Halonen was an undrafted free agent signing out of Michigan Tech and has developed into a reliable scorer at the AHL level in his third season of professional hockey. He’s dressed in 30 games this season for Utica and posted a career-high 16 goals and eight assists.

Devils Acquire Kurtis MacDermid From Avalanche

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The Devils have acquired winger/defenseman Kurtis MacDermid from the Avalanche in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick and the signing rights to center prospect Zakhar Bardakov, per a team release. New Jersey didn’t have an opening on its roster before the trade, so winger Brian Halonen has been assigned to AHL Utica in a corresponding transaction, per CapFriendly.

The 29-year-old MacDermid moves to his third NHL team, spending four years with the Kings before joining the Avalanche via trade in 2021. Strictly an enforcer, MacDermid was briefly a member of the Kraken after they selected him from the Kings in the 2021 Expansion Draft, but they dealt him to Colorado for a fourth-round pick less than a week after picking him up. Primarily playing defense in his days with Los Angeles, he’s shifted to wing on a deeper Colorado blue-line, averaging 7:12 per game over his 131 appearances in the Mile High City.

MacDermid logged 29 games for the Avs this year, recording two goals and a +3 rating with an unusually low 23 PIMs. He has been a healthy scratch in nine of Colorado’s 12 games since the beginning of February.

New Jersey, who already has eight defensemen on the roster, will utilize MacDermid in a similar role. He’ll likely skate as their fourth-line left wing when in the lineup, rotating in and out with players like Tomáš Nosek and Chris Tierney.

The Avalanche, on the other hand, likely care more about clearing MacDermid’s $987.5K cap hit than they do about losing his bottom-six presence. They now have two open roster spots and $2.3MM in space with captain Gabriel Landeskog and goaltender Pavel Francouz on long-term injured reserve, significantly opening up their options to take on a player with double salary retention. They could realistically take on a player whose cap hit is in the $8MM range if the selling team and a third party each retain 50% of his contract.

MacDermid is in the second season of a two-year, $1.975MM contract and will reach unrestricted free agency this summer. If the Devils choose to buy at the deadline in a last-ditch effort to make the playoffs, they have $8.3MM in space remaining with Dougie Hamilton on LTIR for the rest of the season, per CapFriendly.

In Bardakov, the Avs pick up a 2021 Devils seventh-round pick who’s remained in his native Russia since his draft year. The 23-year-old Seversk native logged middle-six minutes for second-place SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL, scoring six goals and 12 points in 51 games with a -3 rating.

Standing at 6-foot-2 and nearly 200 lbs, Bardakov possesses a physical element to his game and adds slightly to a thin pool of center prospects in Colorado. His contract with St. Petersburg is up this season, so he’s an option to sign with Colorado once SKA St. Petersburg’s run in the Gagarin Cup Playoffs, which began today, wraps up.

Devils Place Nathan Bastian On IR

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Devils winger Nathan Bastian landed on IR Friday after he was on the receiving end of a hit from Rangers rookie Matt Rempe in last night’s contest, per the team. New Jersey recalled winger Brian Halonen from AHL Utica in a corresponding transaction.

Officials assessed Rempe a match penalty on the play, which occurred 2:25 into the game. He will not be subject to supplemental discipline. Bastian took only two shifts later in the contest and did not play at all in the third period.

The IR placement indicates Bastian will miss at least one week with his lower-body injury, ruling him out of the Devils’ next three games. The 26-year-old has appeared in 54 of 56 games for New Jersey, posting five goals, seven assists, and a -10 rating while averaging 10:09 per game. The 6-foot-4, 205-lb winger signed a two-year, $2.7MM deal to return to the Devils last summer after briefly hitting free agency and will be a UFA again in 2025.

The 25-year-old Halonen gets his first NHL recall after signing with New Jersey as an undrafted free agent out of Michigan Tech in 2022. In the back half of his entry-level deal, the Delano, Minnesota native has missed a good chunk of 2023-24 with injuries but has been Utica’s best goal-scorer when healthy, potting 13 markers in only 21 games.

Halonen is unlikely to dress for tomorrow’s game against Montreal while the Devils opt for a more veteran fourth-line complement of Tomáš Nosek and Chris Tierney to youngster Alexander Holtz. He’ll be available to the team as a 13th forward in case of an additional injury or unexpected scratches among their forward group.

 

Metropolitan Notes: Rangers, Merzlikins, Puljujarvi, Halonen

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The Rangers could be prioritizing adding some grit over another skilled forward, reports Lohud’s Vince Z. Mercogliano.  That type of player would ideally then help shore up their defensive play in the bottom six as well.  At the moment, New York has ample spending room with both Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko on LTIR but if both of those players return by the end of the season, that spending flexibility becomes much more limited.  Accordingly, doing some scouting work on an impactful gritty depth player who doesn’t cost as much against the salary cap could be a wise course of action for them for now.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • The Blue Jackets announced (Twitter link) that Elvis Merzlikins’ early departure from last night’s victory over Toronto was due to illness. Spencer Martin played the final two periods and overtime in relief.  He will also miss today’s game versus Buffalo as team reporter Jeff Svoboda relays (Twitter link) that Merzlikins did not accompany the team on the trip.  With Columbus carrying three goalies on its active roster, they don’t need to bring another netminder up from AHL Cleveland.
  • Winger Jesse Puljujarvi skated with the Penguins on Friday for the first time since joining them on a PTO earlier this month, relays Seth Rorabaugh of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. The 25-year-old has been working his way back from double hip surgery and still hasn’t been fully cleared to play.  If that comes after a few more skates with Pittsburgh, Puljujarvi could be an intriguing addition in the second half of the season on what’s quite likely to be a deal at or near the league minimum.
  • The Devils announced (Twitter link) that they’ve activated forward Brian Halonen off of season-opening IR and assigned him to AHL Utica. The 24-year-old is in the second and final year of his entry-level contract and had 17 goals and 13 assists in 57 games with the Comets last season.  Since Halonen wasn’t in the NHL at any point last season, he did not count against the cap while on SOIR.

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