Development Camp Continues Tuesday | NOTEBOOK

The Devils had their second day of on-ice activities at this year's development camp. For more on the first day of development camp, click here.

Stay tuned to the notebook for the latest info, updates, interviews, videos and more from the practice session!

Tuesday's Practices

For Tuesday's on-ice sessions at development camp, the Devils split up the roster to two groups. The team's defensemen and goaltenders Ajay White and Veeti Louhivaara skated first. Following, the forwards joined Tyler Brennan and Jakub Malek for the second session. Throughout the first two practices of camp, the intensity has been high as prospects are using the opportunity to show the growth of their game.

“Intensity is very high,” defenseman Ethan Edwards shared after Tuesday's practice. “It’s very impressive. A lot of big guys out there, especially in the d-group so I think that will be really cool for next year to see … it’s a great group off the ice as well. We’re really connecting well off the ice.”

“It’s a great organization, a great opportunity for everybody here,” defenseman Mikael Diotte shared. “Today we had only a defense-practice so we had the possibility to work on specific things with the coaches. We get a lot of support here so it’s pretty easy to get better so we’re enjoying every moment.”

Edwards' Return from Injury and Progression

Defenseman Ethan Edwards made his season debut for the University of Michigan this last season in January, after missing the first three-months with a shoulder injury. He quickly found his way and was a player the Wolverines relied on in the second half of the season and during the post-season push.

"Coming back from injury was tough, but happy I got through that,” Edwards shared about last season at the University of Michigan. “Then going into the playoffs I really found my game, found my stride. Luckily we got to make a push at the end of the season, we came together as a team and got to the Frozen Four so kind of maximized the amount of games I could play which was really nice."

This summer is Edwards' third development camp with the Devils and another opportunity to show the organization the steps he's made to improve. 

"Continue to work on my defensive game," Edwards explained. "Be okay with nothing happening out there and shut down their top players, that’s kind of the priority for me. My two-way game comes naturally so jumping up in the play is kind of second nature for me so I sometimes have to tone it back, but just pick my spots."

Last season, Edwards had an opportuntiy to play with fellow Devils prospect Seamus Casey, who signed a two-year entry level contract with the Devils in May. Edwards had nothing but praise for his teammate's play this past season at Michigan.

“Unbelievable,” Edwards reflected. “His instincts, his skills, honestly I’ve never seen it before. The stuff he can do out there individually and then the way he finds teammates is so impressive. I’m so excited for him to see what he can do next year.”

Filmon's Pro Exposure 

For Devils prospect Josh Filmon, this past season with the Swift Current Broncos in the Western Hockey League was a big opportunity for him to work on his complete game.

“I think I took strides in becoming a little more complete,” Filmon explained. “Had a little more responsibility this year being a 200-foot player, killing plays in the d-zone, penalty killing. It was a good year for me to start fresh and rebuild some of the baseline stuff that’s going to help me to get to pro, and those defensive habits. Towards the end of the year I made big strides as well just figuring out how to apply my offensive skill set into that scheme. I think I can still take strides within my skating and lower-body strength and I think that’s all going to come together and I think that’s something I need to continue to work on to make that jump to pro.”

As he works on making that jump, Filmon has been back home in Winnipeg working with a group of pro players and support staff that have opened his eyes to the process of making the NHL.

“I got a pretty good group of pro guys that I’m training with back home in Winnipeg” Filmon shared. “Make sure that I keep pushing myself, learning from those guys.

“Seth Jarvis in Carolina is a young guy who just kind of made the jump,” Filmon continued. “He didn’t play in the American League he went straight to the NHL. But a guy who had a different path was Cody Glass. He was a really high draft pick and it took him a little bit more time to figure it out and make that transition to the NHL. Two kind of different examples but really good role models.

“It’s important to be an active listener and just try to take as many lessons as you can.”

Learning from Markstrom

When the Devils traded for Jacob Markstrom this off-season, it was something that excited goaltendering prospect Tyler Brennan. Brennan just wrapped his first year of professional hockey with the Devils ECHL affiliate, the Adirondack Thunder, and has studied the new Devils netminder over the last few years.

“In the last few years I’ve been watching him,” Brennan shared. “I like how he plays the game, and was trying to pick a few things out of his game and implement them into mine. He’s had lots of success in the past so I’m just trying to look at him, and be like him and have success like him.

“I think how he plays positionally and how competitive he is, is a big one,” Brennan continued. “(Pushing for) more pace with my game, I think the competitive side is really important so I’m just trying to get there and get better at that.”

In addition to studying Markstrom to improve on the ice, Brennan learned a lot of the off-ice standards professional athletes need after his season in the ECHL.

“I think the big thing I took away was the habits you need to have to be a professional athlete,” Brennan explained. “I think that was a big learning step for me, learning how to eat right, how to do it all yourself. I think all the habits I picked up was big.

“The end of the season when Isaac Poulter came down he lived with me,” Brennan continued. “He showed me some of his pro habits and I picked up on those and I think that was a big thing for me.”

Diotte's Exciting Year

It's been a strong 2024 for defenseman Mikael Diotte. He signed a three-year entry level contract with the Devils in early March before his team, the Drummondville Voltigeurs, won a Championship. From undrafted to signed with the Devils, it's been a journey of hard work and belief for Diotte.

“I didn’t get drafted my two first years (of draft eligibility)” Diotte shraed. “Being able to sign with the New Jersey Devils was really, really exciting for me … It’s good for confidence and it helped me a lot. I’m really excited to show them what I can do on the ice.”

Development camp, and this off-season in general, is an opportunity for the blueliner to develop his game and take the next step especially when it comes to his play with the puck.

“It’s my play with pucks,” Diotte shared about what’s working on improving. “Everything around the blue line, shooting pucks and finding lanes. For sure my physical side, my skating, the way I’m playing defensively I think they want me to keep improving.”

Diotte's plan is to play with the Utica Comets next season and play his first professional year after playing in the Quebec Martime Junior Hockey League over the last four seasons. The experience he had with his team this post-season was incredibly beneficial for the defenseman and helped him continue to grow.

“It’s the first big run I’ve done in my junior career,” Diotte said. “I’ve been there since the beginning of the rebuild, so learning how to win, being nice with people, being around good people it helped every player. Just playing against the best players in Canada for sure helped me to improve my game too. It was a really good season for me and I enjoyed it a lot.”

Vilen First Year in the Pros

Topias Vilen, a 2021 Fifth-Round draft pick for the Devils, just wrapped up his first professional season in North America. Through 54 games in the American Hockey League with the Utica Comets, Vilen contributed 29 points (2G, 27A) and saw the difference of play between European and North American professional hockey.

“It was a lot different than what I’m used to in Finland," Vilen explained. "It’s a lot more physical. I think that’s the biggest thing. The situations come a lot faster, the rink is smaller so everything (happens) fast."

Development camp is just part of his off-season training where he'll look to take the next step and add to his game after his first year in the AHL.

"I think on my defensive side, getting more toughness into my game," Vilen shared about his off-season focus. "More strength and gaining weight."

Free Agency Underway

The first day of NHL Free Agency was busy all across the league and the Devils made some big moves to strength their roster. New Jersey added two veteran defensemen in Brett Pesce and Brendon Dillon. The Devils also signed forward Stefan Noesen as he makes his return to the organization. The club also announced two 2-year, 2-way deals with forwards Mike Hardman and Colton White as well.

For more on the big roster moves made over the last week, click here.