The New Jersey Devils have added some organizational depth on the wing.
On Thursday, general manager Tom Fitzgerald and assistant GM Dan MacKinnon announced the team has signed forward Dylan Wendt to a two-year, entry-level contract that will begin next season. In the meantime, Wendt will join the Devils’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, for the remainder of the season on an amateur tryout.
Wendt joins the organization after spending three years with Western Michigan University. The Grand Haven, Michigan native went from a depth player as a freshman to one of its key offensive weapons as a junior. His production steadily improved over the three seasons, capped off with a career-high 44 points in 38 games, good for second on the team, and was the Broncos’ Hobey Baker Award candidate.
In 111 games at WMU, Wendt scored 33 goals and 69 points. He helped the Broncos make it to the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons for the first time in school history. Unfortunately, Western Michigan was knocked out in the regionals on all three trips, including falling to Michigan State last weekend in Maryland Heights.
The 23-year-old went undrafted and carved his way through the junior ranks by playing for the Green Bay Gamblers and Muskegon Lumberjacks in the United States Hockey League. Wendt was the Lumberjacks’ captain for two seasons.
With the signing, the Devils will have 25 standard player contracts signed through next season, and 16 through the 2025-26 campaign. According to CapFriendly, New Jersey is projected to have over $21 million in cap space next year.
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