New Jersey Devils sign Samuel Laberge to one-year contract

The New Jersey Devils have signed forward Samuel Laberge to a contract for the remainder of the 2023-24 NHL season.

It’s Laberge’s first NHL contract after spending the past seven years playing minor pro. Laberge spent four years in the QMJHL playing for Chateauguay and Rimouski, including an Oceanic appearance at the 2015 Memorial Cup.

Known for his tough, physical play, Laberge turned pro with the Texas Stars in 2017-18, spending two years with the club. With no AHL deal in 2019-20, he joined the Sorel-Tracy Eperviers. he bounced around between the AHL and ECHL for the past few years before finding a home with the AHL’s Utica Comets the past two years.

This year, Laberge has three points with Utica, putting him on a 24-point pace. That would be the best of his AHL career, as would his 130 penalty minute pace, too.