Devils assign former first-round pick to AHL

The New Jersey Devils assigned defenseman Cal Foote to the AHL’s Utica Comets on Friday, a team announcement states.

Foote, 24, had been on the Devils’ roster since getting recalled from Utica on October 23 but hadn’t played in a game. The 2017 first-round pick was a healthy scratch for eight straight games after clearing waivers preseason.

This will likely get Foote some playing time over the weekend – the Devils are out of action until next Tuesday when they take on the Winnipeg Jets. With Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes still sidelined, Foote was the only extra healthy skater on the active roster.

It could also mean that forward Tomáš Nosek, who’s missed ten games with a lower-body injury, could be ready to return by the Winnipeg game. Nosek, currently on injured reserve, returned to practice yesterday and would need a roster spot cleared to be activated from IR.

Regardless, this continues a tough go of things for Foote, who’s failed to find his footing in the NHL and settled for a two-way deal on the open market after being cut loose by the Nashville Predators. He was slated to be a restricted free agent last summer after Nashville acquired him from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Tanner Jeannot trade. However, the Predators opted not to issue Foote a qualifying offer after he recorded four points in 24 games post-trade and middling possession numbers.

Now in the same organization as his brother Nolan, Cal is making $800K in the NHL this year with a minimum guaranteed salary of $450K. He’s again slated to be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer with a qualifying offer of $840K.