The New Jersey Devils have assigned Shane Bowers and Graeme Clarke to the Utica Comets of the AHL.
The New Jersey Devils have assigned Shane Bowers and Graeme Clarke to the Utica Comets of the AHL.
The Devils have completed their 82-game season and won't be heading to the playoffs. Bowers and Clarke were called up to play in the last few games of the season. The Comets have three games remaining this season so keeping the two young forwards on the NHL roster when they are eligible to play in the AHL would be a waste of time.
Despite sitting in seventh place in the North Division, the Comets can still make the playoffs. The top five teams in the North Division make the playoffs. The first four spots have already been clinched but the fifth spot is still up for grabs. The Belleville Senators currently hold the spot with 76 points. The Comets trail the Senators by three points.
The Comets' path to making the playoffs is extremely difficult. Two of their final three games come against the Syracuse Crunch, the North Division leaders and their final game is against the Rochester Americans, the second-place team in the North Division.
Sending Bowers and Clarke to play in important games like this is great for their development.
Bowers was a former first-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche who has struggled to produce offensively in the AHL. This season he played in 40 games scoring nine goals and 13 points. In eight NHL games, he failed to record a point.
Clarke on the other hand enjoyed a strong AHL season. His point totals dipped from last season but his overall impact on each game was still at a very high level. In 68 games this season the 22-year-old scored 24 goals and 47 points. He made his NHL debut as well but wasn't able to register any points in the three games he played in.
Clarke can push for a roster spot in the NHL next season with a good training camp and preseason display.
The Devils have ran a patient but very demanding development tactic with players like Clarke and Alexander Holtz. Lot's of time in the AHL where they shine but an incredibly short leash in the NHL.
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