The New Jersey Devils announced on Tuesday that they have completed their first round of training camp cuts.
Four players were released from the training camp roster, all of whom are either CHL players or participated on an amateur tryout contract (ATO).
Forwards and Devils prospects Cole Brown and Kasperi Pikkarainen have been sent back on loan to their respective CHL teams. Brown will return to the Ontario Hockey League to rejoin the Brantford Bulldogs. The Devils selected Brown in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, 164th overall. In his junior season, the 19-year-old scored 16 goals and 39 points in 65 games, adding one assist in six playoff matches. While Brown has not signed a professional contract, his rights remain with the Devils.
Kasper Pikkarainen will head to the Western Hockey League to play for the Red Deer Rebels. Last season, he was part of TPS in Liiga, playing five games in Finland’s top league, while mostly competing with the U20 team, where he achieved 12 goals and 28 points in 34 games, along with two goals and seven points in 12 playoff games. After his season with the Rebels, Pikkarainen has an extension with TPS that is effective through the 2026-27 season.
Goaltender Zach Pelletier and defenseman Spencer Sova, who were at training camp on an ATO, have been released and are now free agents.
The Devils’ roster is now reduced to 64 players, consisting of 37 forwards, 19 defensemen, and seven goaltenders remaining in training camp.
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