The New Jersey Devils, parent club of the AHL’s Albany Devils, today announced the signings of nine players: defensemen Tyler Eckford, Mark Fayne, Olivier Magnan-Grenier and Harry Young; and forwards Jean-Sebastien Berube, Patrick Davis, Stephen Gionta, Tim Sestito and Chad Wiseman.
Eckford, 24, will enter his third pro season, all with the Devils’ organization. He compiled eight goals and 23 assists for 31 points and 26 penalty minutes in 61 games with Lowell (AHL) in 2009-10. Eckford also saw action in three contests with New Jersey, making his NHL debut on November 19, 2009. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound defenseman represented the Devils at the 2010 AHL All-Star Classic.
Eckford originally signed with the club on Mar. 18, 2008, after three seasons at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks. He totaled 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points and 152 penalty minutes in 112 games during his collegiate career. Eckford was New Jersey’s fifth choice and 217th overall selection in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
Fayne, 23, joins the Devils after a four-season career at Providence College. As a senior, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound defenseman recorded five goals and 17 assists for a career-high 22 points and 14 penalty minutes in 34 games played, while being named honorable mention to the All-Conference Team.
As a Friar, he totaled 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points and 105 penalty minutes in 139 career appearances. Fayne was named to the league’s All-Rookie Team in 2006-07 after three seasons at Nobles Prep (MA). Born in Nashua, N.H., Fayne was selected by New Jersey in the fifth round, 155th overall in the 2005 Entry Draft.
Magnan-Grenier, 24, completed his fourth pro campaign in 2009-10, all with the Devils’ organization. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound defenseman totaled three goals and 16 assists for 19 points and 68 penalty minutes in 71 contests with Lowell last season.
Magnan-Grenier has averaged nearly 73 games played over his three full seasons since splitting 2006-07 between Trenton (ECHL) and Lowell. Born in Sherbrooke, Que., he played three seasons of junior hockey with Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL). Magnan-Grenier was selected by New Jersey in the fifth round, 148th overall in the 2006 Entry Draft.
Young, 20, spent the past four seasons with Windsor (OHL), where he was captain of the Spitfires’ back-to-back 2009 and 2010 Memorial Cup and OHL championship teams. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound defenseman recorded nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points and 153 penalty minutes in 65 games in 2009-10.
Young’s five-season OHL totals showed 19 goals and 36 assists for 55 points and 549 penalty minutes in 277 appearances with Windsor and Guelph. Born in Windsor, Ont., Young was selected by New Jersey in the seventh round, 202nd overall, in the 2008 Entry Draft.
Berube, 20, made his pro debut by appearing in one game with Lowell during the 2010 Calder Cup Playoffs. The 6-foot-4, 210-pound left wing played four seasons with Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL), where he recorded career highs with 24 goals and 21 assists for 45 points in 2009-10, while appearing in 64 games for the third straight season.
Berube’s four-year junior totals showed 54 goals and 51 assists for 105 points and 413 penalty minutes in 232 games for the Huskies. In 2007-08, he played in 17 playoff games en-route to the QMJHL Finals. Born in Matane, Que., Berube was selected by New Jersey in the seventh round, 205th overall, in 2008.
Davis, 23, is entering his fifth pro season, all with the Devils’ organization. The 6-foot-2, 195-pound right wing has appeared in 248 games with Lowell over the previous four campaigns, as well as nine contests with New Jersey over the past two seasons. His career AHL totals showed 40 goals and 62 assists for 102 points and 170 penalty minutes. Davis’s 102 points with Lowell are the most among players still with the organization.
Born in Sterling, Mich., Davis recorded career highs of 15 goals, 20 assists and 35 points in 2009-10. He was New Jersey’s fourth choice and 99th overall selection in the 2005 Entry Draft.
Gionta, 26, returns to the organization after spending each of the past four seasons with Lowell. He served the AHL Devils as captain in 2009-10, recording 15 goals and 19 assists for a career-high 34 points and 26 penalty minutes in 68 games played. The 5-foot-7, 185-pound center has appeared in 250 games for the AHL Devils, the most in franchise history.
In 2005-06, Gionta began his pro career by seeing action in three games with Albany (AHL) upon the completion of his collegiate career. He played four seasons at Boston College from 2002-03 through 2005-06, totaling 33 goals and 57 assists for 90 points in 151 games. Born in Rochester, N.Y., Gionta made two trips to the Frozen Four and is the younger brother of former Devils forward Brian Gionta.
Sestito, 25, appeared in 66 games with Lowell and nine contests with New Jersey last season. He was acquired on July 9, 2009, after spending four seasons with the Oilers’ organization. The 6-foot, 200-pound forward recorded 18 goals and 17 assists for 35 points and 38 penalty minutes in 66 AHL games last season. Sestito also added one assist and two penalty minutes in nine NHL appearances.
Entering his sixth pro season, Sestito has totaled 32 goals and 31 assists for 63 points in 207 career AHL games with Lowell, Springfield, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Bridgeport. Born in Rome, N.Y., Sestito originally signed with Edmonton as a free agent on August 28, 2006.
Wiseman, 29, re-joins the organization after spending the 2009-10 season with Springfield (AHL). He recorded 24 goals and 35 assists for 59 points and 83 penalty minutes in 67 games with the Falcons last year. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound forward spent the 2008-09 season with Lowell, recording nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points and 23 penalty minutes in 23 games. Wiseman previously signed with the organization as a free agent on July 17, 2008.
Entering in his tenth pro season, Wiseman has totaled 147 goals and 208 assists for 355 points in 482 career AHL games with Springfield, Lowell, Hershey, Hartford and Cleveland. He also has one goal and one assist in nine NHL games with San Jose and the N.Y. Rangers. Wiseman was San Jose’s eighth-round choice in the 2000 Entry Draft.
