New Jersey Devils sign undrafted UFA Mikael Diotte to entry-level contract

The New Jersey Devils have signed undrafted free agent defenseman Mikael Diotte to a three-year, entry-level contract.

The deal will commence with the 2024-25 season.

The 20-year-old defender has spent his entire five-year QMJHL campaign with the Drummondville Voltigeurs. He leads all Voltigeurs defenders with a career-best 10 goals and 37 points. Diotte is an aggressive defender who isn’t afraid to lay the body, but he also puts some heavy power behind his shot.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound defender was part of Quebec’s roster that won gold during the 2019 Canada Winter Games. He was drafted 36th overall by the Voltigeurs later that year but didn’t become a full-time player until the COVID-affected 2020-21 season.

The Devils are fresh off of a 4-3 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Friday. They’ll finish their California road trip with a 3:30 PM ET start against the Los Angeles Kings on Sunday before hosting the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. The Devils are third in the wild-card race, four points behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second spot. The Devils are 4-5-1 over the past 10 games.

Drummondville is in first place in the Western Conference with a record of 41-11-5-1 and 88 points. They’re one of the hottest teams in the league as of late, with a 8-1-1-0 record over the past 10 games.