Devils re-sign Max Willman to one-year contract

Willman was up and down between the Devils and their American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, throughout the 2023-24 season. In 18 games with New Jersey, the 29-year-old scored three goals and an assist, with his last goal coming on March 29 against the Buffalo Sabres. While with the Comets, he notched 12 goals and 22 points in 33 games.

Willman was on a similar one-year, two-year contract with the Devils that he signed right before the season started. He had spent the previous four years with the Philadelphia Flyers organizations, playing games while also spending time with the AHL’s Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the ECHL’s Reading Royals.

The Buffalo Sabres originally took the Barnstable, Massachusetts native in the fifth round of the 2014 NHL Draft, but never signed a contract. Willman elected to play for Brown University, before eventually transferring to Boston University for his senior season in 2018-19. He made his pro debut with the Royals in October 2019.

In 68 career NHL games, Willman has scored seven goals and 10 points. He has amassed 44 goals and 89 points in 178 AHL appearances.

With the signing, the Devils have 31 standard player contracts signed for next season. According to CapFriendly, New Jersey currently has just under $20 million of cap space to play with.