The New Jersey Devils seem to be operating with a different idea this time around: let the coaches help steer the thing.
That was the takeaway after Ben Birnell’s recent interview in the Utica Sentinel with Utica Comets general manager and Devils assistant manager Brendan Birch. Birch’s comments pointed to a setup that feels a lot more connected, especially with Comets head coach Ryan Parent involved in the process.
That matters because Utica has not exactly been treated like an afterthought lately. The Comets have gone three straight years without making the playoffs, and last season got off to a rough start before a huge late push brought them within a point. Even with that run, they still missed out again.
Now, though, Birch has overseen major changes. The Devils have loaded up the Comets roster with real talent, starting with former first-round pick Anton Silayev. The big defenseman spent years in the KHL and is now making the move to North America, where he’ll get the chance to show whether he’s as special as his draft pedigree suggests.
The additions didn’t stop there. Amadeus Lombardi, Colin White, Ben Steeves, Etienne Morin, and Eamon Powell all came in as solid pieces that should give Utica a better shot to compete in 2026-27.
What stood out most, though, was Birch making it clear how closely he works with Parent. That kind of collaboration feels different from the previous regime, when the Comets seemed to drift a bit from the bigger picture.
Parent is in his second full season behind the bench and his third overall, so he knows the group well. He understands what the team does well and, just as important, what has not been working.
That same idea appears to be taking shape with the Devils and Sheldon Keefe. Once New Jersey decided to move forward with Keefe, more changes followed. Longtime goalie coach Dave Rogalski was let go, a move many viewed as long overdue.
The Devils’ coaching staff now looks completely new. Brad Shaw is the only holdover, having arrived last offseason. Keefe also got the chance to bring in his own people, including former Harvard head coach Ted Donato.
The big question is whether Keefe had more say in shaping this staff than he would have under the old setup. It certainly looks that way.
And that’s the point here: Birch and Mehta are leaning on the head coaches, and that makes sense. Those are the people with the clearest feel for what’s actually happening on the ice. It’s a more sensible approach, and it’s good to see the Devils embracing it.
In Other News...
Devils Finally Have A Reason To Care About Utica Again
Utica has not been much more than a distant outpost for the Devils in recent seasons, but this summer gave the organization a reason to pay closer attention. Sunny Mehta, who oversees hockey operations in New Jersey, has pushed through a meaningful reset of the Comets roster and management structure, starting with the hiring of Braden Birch as assistant general manager and general manager in Utica.
The roster work has been just as notable, with the Comets adding several players who bring real AHL scoring potential while also keeping important pieces from last season in place. For New Jersey, the hope is straightforward: make Utica more competitive, more stable and more useful as a development stop for the next wave of NHL talent. [Read more 🡒]
Tomas Nosek Leaves Devils After Sudden Career Turnaround
Tomas Nosek is heading back to where it all started, signing with HC Dynamo Pardubice for the upcoming season after a long NHL run that included stops with the Devils and Panthers. For New Jersey, he was a veteran forward brought in for depth and experience, and for Florida he became part of a championship group, finishing with a Stanley Cup win in 2025.
The move sends Nosek back to Czechia and to the club where he launched his career, a full-circle decision that fits the stage he is at now. After more than 500 NHL games, the jump to Europe likely marks the final stretch of his professional playing days, closing out a career that took an unexpected late turn into a title run. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Suddenly Have A New Samu Salminen Dilemma
Samu Salminens next move is suddenly a real talking point for the Devils, because the forward is nearing free agency after four years of NCAA hockey and still has not signed with New Jersey. For a team that always has one eye on the pipeline and the other on the clock, that leaves his path hanging in the balance at just the moment his college career appears to be reaching its natural end.
A recent Colorado court ruling has made the situation more complicated by opening the door for some athletes who began college sports in the 2022-23 season and used up four years of eligibility to return to NCAA athletics. Salminen now has a wider menu of choices than the usual pro-hockey decision tree, with the ability to sign with any NHL team, go back to college hockey, or keep his career moving in Europe, and that uncertainty is exactly what makes his case worth watching for New Jersey. [Read more 🡒]