The New Jersey Devils, parent club of the AHL’s Lowell Devils, today announced the signings of defenseman Jay Leach and forwards Jon DiSalvatore and Chad Wiseman.
Leach, 28, joins the Devils after splitting last season between the AHL’s Norfolk Admirals and Portland Pirates. He totaled 20 points (6-14-20) and a plus-21 rating in 75 regular-season games and went on to reach the Eastern Conference Finals with the Pirates. Leach also suited up for two NHL games with the Tampa Bay Lightning. The 6-4, 220-lb defenseman will enter his eighth pro season in 2008-09,
A native of Syracuse, N.Y., Leach made his NHL debut with Boston in 2005-06. He was originally drafted by Phoenix in 1998.
DiSalvatore, 27, will enter his sixth pro season in 2008-09. The 6-1, 200-lb. winger spent last season with the AHL’s San Antonio Rampage, recording 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points and 46 penalty minutes in 66 appearances. DiSalvatore has totaled 264 points (109-155-264) in 367 career AHL games for Worcester, Peoria, and San Antonio. He made his NHL debut by appearing in five games with St. Louis in 2005-06.
DiSalvatore was born March 30, 1981 in Bangor, Maine. He was drafted by San Jose in 2000.
Wiseman, 27, returns to North America after spending last season in Germany. The 6-1, 210-lb. native of Burlington, Ont. split the 2001-02 through 2006-07 seasons between the AHL and NHL with the San Jose, NY Rangers, and Washington organizations. He has totaled 277 points (114-163-277) in 392 career AHL games with Cleveland, Hartford, and Hershey, and he reached the Calder Cup Finals with the Bears in 2007.
Wiseman saw action in nine NHL games from 2002-03 through 2005-06 and shows two points (1-1-2). He was originally drafted by San Jose in 2000.
In addition, the Lowell Devils announced the signings of defenseman Matt Cohen and forwards Tyler Burton, Eric Castonguay, and Brad Mills.
Cohen, 22, rejoins the organization after appearing in 72 games with Trenton (ECHL) and three games with Lowell (AHL) last season. The 6-1, 200-lb. defenseman compiled five goals and 17 assists for 22 points and 67 penalty minutes for the ECHL Devils in 2007-08. Cohen appeared in nine games with Trenton in 2006-07 following the completion of his four-season collegiate career at Yale University (ECAC). Born November 8, 1985 in New York City, he also spent two seasons with the United States Development Program.
Burton, 23, joined Lowell towards the end of 2007-08 campaign after four seasons at Colgate University (ECAC). He recorded one goal and one assist for two points and two penalty minutes in six games with the AHL Devils. Burton’s four seasons with the Red Raiders show 82 goals and 73 assists for 155 points and 158 penalty minutes in 158 appearances. The 5-9, 180-lb. forward led the league with 23 goals and 41 points his senior season. Burton was named to the ECAC’s First-All Star Team in 2006 and Second All-Star Team in 2007 and 2008. He was born March 11, 1985 in Langley, B.C.
Castonguay, 20, recorded 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points and 22 penalty minutes in 67 games with Trenton last season, while also appearing in two matches with Lowell. The 5-11, 195-lb. winger joined the organization after three seasons with Lewiston (QMJHL). Castonguay posted 72 goals and 89 assists for 161 points and 50 penalty minutes in 205 contests for the MAINEiacs, and was a member of its Memorial Cup-winning club in 2006-07. He was born September 18, 1987 in Granby, Que.
Mills, 25, split the 2007-08 season between Trenton (26 games) and Lowell (16 games). He first joined the organization by appearing in eight games with Lowell in 2006-07. Mills spent four seasons at Yale University, compiling 26 goals and 35 assists for 61 points and 152 penalty minutes in 96 games played. The 6-0, 195-lb. forward was born March 5, 1983 in Olds, Alta.
