New Jersey Devils sign Jakub Zboril and Michael Hutchinson to PTOs

The New Jersey Devils announced they’ve signed defenseman Jakub Zboril and goaltender Michael Hutchinson to professional tryout agreements (PTO). Both players will attend Devils training camp and look to turn their tryouts into contracts for the 2024-25 season.

Zboril, 27, was originally a 2015 first-round pick, 13th overall of the Boston Bruins. The Brno, Czechia native spent parts of eight seasons with the Bruins organization, with his most productive season coming back in 2020-21 when he recorded nine assists in 42 games. Zboril spent last season split between the American Hockey League’s Providence Bruins and Columbus Blue Jackets’ affiliate Cleveland Monsters. He’d appear in 14 Calder Cup Playoff games with the Monsters, collecting four points throughout their postseason run.

The 6-foot-1 defenseman has represented Czechia on the international stage, playing in the International Ice Hockey Federation’s (IIHF) U18 World Junior Championship in 2016 and 2017 and also for the Czechia national team during the 2023 World Championship. Zboril will look to be a steady stay-at-home presence throughout Devils’ training camp.

Hutchinson, on the other hand, agrees to tryout for New Jersey after spending most of last season with the American Hockey League’s Grand Rapid Griffins. The southpaw netminder appeared in 32 games for the Griffins, posting a 14-14-3 record along with a 2.89 GAA and .892 Sv.%. Hutchinson also managed to dress in one NHL game with the Detroit Red Wings, this after he signed a league minimum contract last December.

The 34-year-old Barrie, ON native was originally a 2008 third-round pick of the Boston Bruins. Hutchinson would eventually make his way to the Winnipeg Jets where he made his NHL debut during the 2013-14 season. The very next season he’d help the Jets clinch a Stanley Cup Playoff berth when he went on a 14-3-2 run, which included an impressive .939 Sv.%. His 154 career NHL games has since included stops with the mentioned Jets, Florida Panthers, two stints with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Avalanche, Columbus Blue Jackets and most recently with the Red Wings. Hutchinson holds a career 57-62-18 record.

Both Zboril and Hutchinson will join the Devils on September 18 when all players report for training camp.