Devils sign Kearns, Strait

The New Jersey Devils today signed forward Bracken Kearns and defenseman Brian Strait to one-year, two-way contracts worth $650,000 at the NHL level.

Kearns, 36, spent the past two seasons with the New York Islanders and their AHL affiliate, the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. In 2016-17, he played in two games with the Islanders and skated in 74 regular-season games with Bridgeport as an alternate captain, reaching new career highs with 23 goals (tie), six game-winning goals and 152 shots. He led all Sound Tigers in points (51) and goals for the second consecutive season.

Through 665 regular-season AHL contests, Kearns has 162 goals and 233 assists for 395 points and 687 penalty minutes. In addition, the North Vancouver, B.C., native has skated in 21 career Calder Cup Playoff contests, notching two goals and nine assists.

Prior to signing with New Jersey, Kearns has played 35 NHL games with Florida, San Jose and the Islanders.

Strait, 29, spent the 2016-17 season with the Winnipeg Jets organization where he split time between the Manitoba Moose (AHL) and Winnipeg. He tallied two assists in five regular-season NHL games with the Jets as well as two goals and 14 points in 58 games with Manitoba.

The left-shooting blueliner matched his previous AHL career high with 12 assists and had a career best 84 shots on goal.

In the NHL, Strait has six goals and 23 assists for 29 points and 91 penalty minutes in 187 regular-season games with Pittsburgh, the Islanders and Winnipeg. He also had one goal and 16 penalty minutes in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff contests.

At the AHL level, the 6-foot-1, 205-pound defenseman has totaled 10 goals and 44 assists for 54 points and 218 penalty minutes in 278 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Manitoba. He also has one goal and five assists in 18 Calder Cup Playoff matches.