The New Jersey Devils kept their minor-league depth moving on Monday, locking up forward Ben Steeves and goaltender Jakub Malek on new contracts.
Steeves is back on a one-year, two-way deal that pays $850K at the NHL level and $150K in the minors. The forward originally signed a two-year entry-level contract with New Jersey in 2024, then spent both seasons of that deal on loan to the AHL’s Charlotte Checkers.
That stint in Charlotte gave Steeves a real foothold. He worked his way into a middle-six role as a rookie in 2024-25, putting up 28 points in 60 games.
This past season, he took another step, finishing with 23 goals, 45 points and 100 penalty minutes in 72 games. He was one of only three AHL players under 5’10” to hit the 100-minute mark in penalties.
The Devils are clearly betting on the combination of edge and production. Steeves’ forechecking and scoring touch have started to show up together, and the one-year term gives him another shot to prove he belongs in the NHL picture.
Malek’s new deal runs two years and is also a two-way contract. It will pay $850K at the NHL level and $175K in the AHL next season, then rise to $900K at the NHL level and $275K in the AHL in 2027-28. The contract includes $300K guaranteed.
For Malek, this was his first season in North America. He spent most of it with the AHL’s Utica Comets, where he went 13-?
No, 13 wins and posted a .895 save percentage in 31 games. He also picked up one win and a .930 save percentage in two ECHL appearances.
Before coming over, Malek played from 2022 to 2025 with Ilves Tampere of the Liiga, Finland’s top league. He split starts in each of those seasons and still finished with 40 wins and a .912 save percentage across 82 appearances.
Now the Devils will give him a chance to push for Utica’s starting job. His path there is tied to Nico Daws, who is expected to move up to the NHL by 2027 but could still split time between leagues next season.
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The most interesting part for New Jersey is how many of the new faces are arriving with a chance to matter quickly. Utica has brought in a mix of proven AHL scorers, reclamation projects and depth signings, while also keeping several familiar pieces in place on new deals. The result is a roster that feels less settled than it did a few weeks ago, and the next question is which of these moves are simply about filling out the Comets, and which ones are aimed at creating a real path upward for Devils prospects. [Read more 🡒]