Thomson, 24, completed his third professional season, spending most of the 2016-17 campaign with Albany (AHL). The left-shooting forward made his NHL debut with the Devils on April 4 vs. Philadelphia and played in three games with the club. He led Albany (tie, Brian Gibbons) with 72 regular-season games played and scored six goals and four assists for 10 points with 90 penalty minutes. Additionally, he notched one goal in four 2017 Calder Cup Playoff matches. Through 212 career AHL regular-season games, Thomson has 20 goals and 24 assists for 44 points to go along with 296 penalty minutes.
The 6-3, 205lb., forward spent five seasons, 2009-14, in the Ontario Hockey League playing for Kitchener and North Bay before starting his professional career with Albany in the 2014-15 season. He served Kitchener as an alternate captain for one-plus season from 2013-14, before being traded to North Bay where he also served as an alternate captain. Born on January 16, 1993 in Brampton, Ont., Thomson was New Jersey's fifth choice (4th round), 96th overall, in the 2012 NHL Draft.
