The New Jersey Devils has finally owned the Race by signing a two years contract with….

On Tuesday morning, the New Jersey Devils signed Ryan Schmelzer and Shane Bowers to two-year contracts, respectively.

The New Jersey Devils announced the signing of two forwards on Tuesday morning. Ryan Schmelzer, 30, and Shane Bowers, 24, respectively, inked two-year, two-way contracts. Both announcements were announced by Devils Assistant General Manager/Utica Comets General Manager Dan MacKinnon and President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.

On June 26, 2023, Bowers was acquired by the Boston Bruins in return for defenceman Reilly Walsh. With the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL), he started the season. It wasn’t until January 11 against the Tampa Bay Lightning that Bowers made his Devils debut. He participated in eight NHL contests. He played 43 games and scored 14 points (10 goals, 4 assists) with the Comets.

Captain of the Comets, Schmelzer spent the previous six seasons with the AHL affiliate of New Jersey. In 72 games last season, he led all Utica skaters with 52 points (18 goals, 34 assists), establishing a new AHL career high for himself.

The contract’s specifics are as follows, per the press release: 2024–2025: $775,000 in the NHL and $275,000 in the AHL; 2025–2026: $775,000 in the NHL and $275,000 in the AHL. Save THN’s New Jersey Devils website as a favorite to get the most recent information, exclusive interviews, in-depth analyses, and much more.