Schmelzer and Bowers re-signed. I assume primarily for Utica, though both are two way contracts.
The New Jersey Devils announced today that the team has re-signed forward Shane Bowers to a two-year contract. The details of the contract are as follows: 2024-25: $775,000 at the NHL level and $200,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level; 2025-26: $775,000 NHL/$225,000 AHL ($250,000...
www.nhl.com
The Utica captain has signed his first NHL, two-way contract.
www.nhl.com
$250k for Bowers and $275k for Schmelzer
Schmelzer's 1st NHL contract (2-way) was well earned after the 3 seasons he has put together for the Comets. He came to the Comets in '21-22 as a 3-yr AHL veteran with NJ affiliate Binghamton. He was named the Comets Captain for the Comets inaugural season. He would keep that role for for the next 2 seasons and will undoubtedly keep it for the next the upcoming 2 as well. He was labeled as their #3/4 center. Early injuries made him #3. By the end of the season injuries had pushed him to #2 where he would remain through the playoffs. He once again handled the role admirably compiling 18 G/14 A/32 Pts.
In '22/23 the Comets center problems continued. This season it was mainly due to the incompetence of the other said centers. He would eventually end up the #2 and often times slid into the #1 slot. Once again he managed to handle the role. He put up numbers that showed he was doing what a center is supposed to do, set up his wingers. His own goal totals suffered (6), but he kept feeding his wingers accounting for 29 assists. That number would have been higher if those said wings could have finished the job.
This past '23-24 season he was once again slated to be the #3 on paper as Dowling, Criscuolo, and Bowers were acquired to fill the middle roles. As the season progressed and injuries and call-ups occurred, once again Ryan rose in the center hierarchy. He became the team's #2 center and sometimes back at #1. Due to his jockeying around in the lineup, he would find himself between a variety of wingers. It didn't seem to matter. He fit right into the role this time and accounted himself better than most would have expected. He became the heart and soul of the Comets. He was the team leader. He was a role model for every team member (not that they followed his lead) working every shift to his physical limits.
His work effort elevated him to the the top of the scoring charts. He continued to supply his wings with the puck putting up 34 assists, #1. His own goal came back up to 18, #3. His 52 Pts made him the team scoring leader. Ryan became the best all around player on the Comets. What more could you ask for from your Captain? This contract is most deserved even if he never sees a minute in N.J. The AHL $$$ are well deserved.
Congrats Cappie!
Now I'll still lodge a factual need.
They have Dowling who is a very good #2 if he can stay healthy and stay in Utica.
Bowers is not a consistent point producer and maybe is better suited on the wing. 10G/4A/14 Pts in 43 GP is not the numbers you want for even a #3. Like I said I'd put him out on the wing.
That places Ryan back at #2/3. The Comets still, for the 4th year running, really need a #1 center.
They also need an experinced AHL scoring winger with some size and a 2nd wing with some size who is an average AHL scorer.
Why the 2 sizeable wings?
Filmon, Wendt, Ghantous are rookies with no evidence of physicality.
Bowers and Dowling are not big and were hurt by guys that are.
Schmelzer, Halonen, Gambardella, and Stillman are average sized, but could use a little size on their lines. Halonen and Stillman think they're tough, but it hasn't gone well for them so far.
Clarke avoids contact like it's the plague.
Halonen and Clarke are RFAs I expect to be re-signed.
Parent was #3 in points and Criscuolo was #4. They are both small.
I've listed 11 forwards. The # after their name is where they finished in the points totals.
These 8 are signed:
Filmon
Ghantous
Wendt
Schmelzer (#1 in Pts)
Dowling (#5)
Gambardella (#8)
Stillman (#10)
Bowers (#16 14Pts/43 GP)
These 3 are unsigned, but I think they will be:
Clarke (#2)
Halonen (#7 in 35 GP/#2 20 G)
Parent (#5) is small, but I think they bring him back.
That's 11 forwards and 8 made up the nucleus of this year's team that was not successful.
These 4 are UFAs
Criscuolo (#4)
Willman (#11 22Pts/33GP)
Laberge (#14)
Legare (3Pts/15 GP)
Laberge and Legare have size and are physical, but they don't score.
Criscuolo puts up points but is small.
Willman is productive, but was in NJ half of the season. When he finally returned ,he broke his sternum and a "couple ribs". That was it for his season.
Criscuolo is the only one of these guys that could serve a purpose on the wing or at center n the right lineup. He did put up the 4th highest point total, but on a team that didn't produce a lot of points to begin with. Schmelzer's 52 points placed him at #43 in the AHL, 25 points behind the league leader.
If they were to return all of these guys, they would basically ice the same forwards as this season and add 3 rookies. That's bringing back the North Division's last place team. I don't see those rookies turning this team into a playoff contender.
Doesn't sound like a good idea to me! They need to shake this team up with some size and scoring ability. One of them needs top be a #1 center..
