Devils place Nick DeSimone on waivers

The New Jersey Devils placed defenseman Nick DeSimone on waivers Saturday.

The 30-year-old DeSimone has yet to appear in a game this season for the Devils, mostly spending his time in the NHL this year as a healthy scratch. DeSimone was recalled by New Jersey Dec.27 and now once again, hits the waiver wire, and is an option for 31 teams to claim on Sunday.

DeSimone, a East Amherst, NY native, has appeared in 12 games for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, tallying four assists, and collecting four penalty minutes. The Devils and DeSimone agreed to terms on a one-year, $775,000 deal last June. New Jersey acquired the right-handed defenseman via a waiver claim, after the Calgary Flames gave up on the mobile blueliner shortly into 2024. DeSimone recorded one goal and one assist in 11 games for the Devils last season.

DeSimone’s career includes spending parts of three seasons with the Calgary Flames organization, including splitting time between the Flames, and their AHL affiliate Calgary Wranglers. Throughout his nine-year professional tenure, DeSimone has dressed in 38 NHL games between the Devils and the Flames, tallying two goals, five assists, for seven career points. Already clearing waivers once this season, the Devils are hopeful they can return DeSimone to the Utica Comets of the AHL.

New Jersey enters Saturday’s action second in the Metropolitan Division, two points behind the Washington Capitals. The Devils are 6-4-0 in their last 10 games, however have lost three straight contests. The Sheldon Keefe-led team ranks second in the NHL in power-play efficiency, and rank 10th overall in goals scored per game.

The Devils take on the San Jose Sharks in an afternoon affair in California, and then will make way to Seattle, to take on the Kraken Monday night.