New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 1/3/17

This post will recap the 13th week of Devils prospect action for the 2016-17 season. It's highlighted by the 4 Devils prospects at the WJC advancing to the medal rounds, the other prospects returning to the ice following a holiday break, and Albany going on a hot streak.

WJC

Blake Speers ended up finishing group play with 2 assists, +2, 2 PIM, and 5 shots in 4 games. Last night he scored in an important goal to get Canada on the board against the Czech Republic as they would go on to win that Quarterfinal match. Michael McLeod finished group play with 2 goals, an even rating, 2 PIM, and 4 shots. He was a -1 in 1:33 against the Czech Republic last night. Canada will take on Sweden in the second Semifinal tomorrow.

Joey Anderson finished group play with an assist, even rating, and 6 shots in 4 games. He helped the US to victory in their Quarterfinal game against Switzerland yesterday, putting in a solid defensive shift in 17:16 of ice time. Yegor Rykov finished group play with a goal, 5 assists, +4, and 7 shots while logging heavy minutes for Russia. He was a +2 with a shot in 21:35 of ice time in Russia's Quarterfinal win over Denmark yesterday. The US and Russia will face off in the first Semifinal tomorrow.

QMJHL

Brandon Gignac had a goal, 3 assists, +3, 2 PIM, 2 shots, and won 28/45 faceoffs across 3 games for Shawinigan last week.

OHL

Colton White finished the week with a goal, +2, 2 PIM, and 4 shots across 3 games for Sault Ste. Marie.

Nathan Bastian put up at least one assist in all 3 games he played in last week. He finished the week with 5 assists, +4, 4 PIM, 7 shots, and won 48.61% of the faceoffs he took.

Evan Cormier had a solid week despite losing twice in overtime. He made 44 saves on 48 shots against Windsor on Wednesday. He followed that up by stopping 36 of 39 shots against Flint on Friday. He's on a nice run right now with 10 Quality Starts out of his past 12 with a .917 SV% during that stretch.

WHL

Colby Sissons had a busy week, appearing in 4 games with 3 assists and a +2 rating.

NCAA

Alex Kerfoot had an assist, shot, and won 5/10 faceoffs in Harvard's victory over RPI on Friday.

JD Dudek was held off the scoresheet in games against Quinnipiac and Ferris State last week but did register 10 shots and won 9/16 faceoffs against Ferris State.

Brett Seney was held to just one shot against Colorado College on Wednesday. The following night he had a goal, assist, +2, and 5 shots against Northern Michigan.

Jeremy Davies had an even rating, 3 shots, and 2 blocks against Clarkson on Friday.

Europe

Mikhail Maltsev played in a MHL game for SKA-1946 last week, adding an assist, +1, shot, and winning 6/13 faceoffs. He now has an assist in 3 straight MHL games.

Jesper Bratt remains injured and missed AIK's only game last week.

AHL

Albany won all 3 of their games last week and currently sit 2nd in the North Division with 39 points after 33 games. Their all situation PDO is currently 100.65%. They currently have a Shots For% of 50.80%. The PP is currently operating at 16.33% which is 22nd in the league, while the PK is at 81.46% which is 15th in the league.

Injury Update: Ryan Kujawinski has returned to action after being out since November 16 with an upper body injury. Joe Blandisi (oblique), Petr Straka (upper body), and Scott Wedgewood (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Transactions: Yohann Auvitu was recalled by New Jersey on 12/27 and sent back down yesterday. Luke Gazdic was recalled by New Jersey on 12/28. Brian Ward was signed to a PTO on 12/30 with Albany's roster thinning out due to injuries and call ups. Steve Santini was recalled by New Jersey on 1/1. Brandon Gormley was reassigned to Albany after the Spengler Cup on 1/1.

Friday 12/30: Albany defeated Toronto 4-2. John Quenneville had 2 goals with Ben Sexton and Blake Pietila adding 1 each. Carter Camper had 3 assists followed by Reece Scarlett with 2. Blake Coleman had 6 shots followed by Quenneville and Scarlett with 5 each as the Devils outshot the Marlies 35-24. Mackenzie Blackwood made 22 saves. Albany went 1/4 on the PP and 4/5 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Saturday 12/31: Albany defeated Hartford 3-1. Jan Mandat, Ben Sexton, and Blake Pietila had the goals for Albany. Pietila, Karl Stollery, Kevin Rooney, and Max Novak had an assist each. Mandat had 5 shots followed by Quenneville with 4 as the Devils outshot the Wolf Pack 30-25. Ken Appleby made 24 saves. Albany went 0/1 on the PP and 4/5 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Sunday 1/1: Albany defeated Bridgeport 3-2. Vojtech Mozik had a goal and 2 assists followed by Karl Stollery with 2 assists. Ben Sexton and Blake Coleman had the other goals. John Quenneville and Blake Pietila had an assist each. Sexton had 3 shots as the Devils were outshot 32-19. Mackenzie Blackwood made 30 saves. Albany went 2/3 on the PP and 3/4 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Welcome Back Boucher: The Devils reacquired Reid Boucher off of waivers from Nashville yesterday. Boucher appeared in 3 games for the Predators with a goal, 3 shots, and average ice time of 8:42. In 5 games with the Predators' AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals, Boucher had 4 goals, an assist, and 13 shots.

Spengler Cup Success: Congrats to Brandon Gormley and Team Canada for their 2016 Spengler Cup victory. Gormley had a goal and 3 assists in 5 games.

The New Guy: Albany signed LW Brian Ward to a PTO last week due to a thinning roster. The 6'1, 205 lbs. Ward is 24 years old and had 12 goals and 5 assists in 25 games with the Adirondack Thunder (ECHL) this season. He spent the last 3 seasons with St. Lawrence University where he had 27 goals and 43 assists in 112 games. He captained St. Lawrence last season.

Coming Up: Albany will take on St. John's tomorrow, Utica on Friday, and Lehigh Valley on Saturday.

ECHL

Brandon Baddock didn't feature for the Thunder last week.

Prospect of the Week

I'm going to give this week's honors to Blake Speers who has been a solid player for Canada no matter what role they need to put him in. He's been able to contribute offensively with 3 points in 5 games and reliable defensively at even strenght and on the PK while averaging 14:03 in ice time. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he closes out the WJC and then performs for Sault Ste. Marie.

ADevil of the Week

Ben Sexton earns this week's honors after scoring an even strength goal in 3 straight games. He also finished a +5 with 8 shots and 12 PIM in that stretch. Sexton is currently tied for 4th on the team in goals (8) and is 6th in points (15).

Your Take

What are your thoughts on the Devils prospects in the WJC? How about the week that Albany just had? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!