In late June, the New Jersey Devils acquired left winger Adam Beckman from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Graham Clark. The two players were just five spots apart in the 2019 NHL Draft and both were top prospects for their respective teams. Clark was the Utica Comets' leading scorer in the 2023-24 season, but was called up to play in three NHL games, none of which resulted in a goal. Beckman, on the other hand, is much more experienced, having played in 23 NHL games. Beckman could be a plus for the Devils if he can make the roster for the 2024-25 season. At 6-foot-2 and weighing 182 pounds, he has the ability to bring the Devils some physical strength that was lacking on the team last season.
Beckman was selected 75th overall in the third round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He made his NHL debut on October 30, 2021 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and earned his first NHL assist. He has played in 23 games with the Wild over three seasons, averaging 9 minutes, 24 seconds of ice time last season. Beckman showed promise with the Iowa Wild, but signing with the Devils will give him the opportunity to begin his NHL career. Securing a spot on the Devils bench will give the young forward a chance to develop his game and become a seasoned NHL player.
Make a deal with the devil
On Monday (July 15), Devils general manager (GM) Tom Fitzgerald and assistant GM Dan MacKinnon announced that Beckman signed a one-year contract. The contract is worth $775,000 at the NHL level and $125,000 at the American Hockey League (AHL) level, with $150,000 guaranteed. The two-way contract can be seen as another attempt by Fitzgerald to prepare for a higher level of strength and size. While the Devils have many stars on the front line, it remains important to acquire more players who can bolster the fourth line. A fundamental reworking of the line combinations will ensure that the Devils are a sustainable and dynamic force heading into the 2024-25 season.
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In March 2020, Beckman signed a three-year entry-level contract with an annual salary of $2.775 million and a cap hit of $894,167. Looking back at Beckman's time with the Wild, he appeared in 11 games during the 2023-24 season. In those games, he recorded two assists, 13 blocked shots and 10 shots on goal. Time will tell if he can be a long-term player in the NHL, but he needs an opportunity to prove he can be a part of the Devils organization.
Beckman's AHL success
In his four seasons with the Iowa Wild, Beckman played in 181 games. During that time, he scored a total of 108 points. The 2022-23 season was his most successful year, recording 24 goals and 12 assists. He saw a slight drop in points in the 2023-24 season, but still finished the season with 33 points. He also had two five-game point streaks and was named an alternate captain for the 2023-24 season. A fresh start with the Devils might be just what Beckman needs to have a breakout season.
Beckman previously played in the Western Hockey League (WHL) where he was drafted 96th overall by the Spokane Chiefs in 2016. He scored 62 points in his first season with the Chiefs and set the record for the most goals scored in 10 games in 2020. Beckman also won the Bobby Clarke Award during the 2019-20 season, finishing the year as the top scorer in the WHL. During the same season, he was named the WHL Western Conference Player of the Year and added to the Western Conference First All-Star Team.
Where does Beckman fit in New Jersey?
Beckman will try to make the roster at training camp in September. If not, he will likely be a hot prospect in the AHL. He will either play alongside Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian or move to the Comets and wait as a backup fourth lineman. Hopefully, he will get a chance to prove himself as a valuable left winger while hitting and checking. That said, signing Beckman shows that the Devils are focused on strengthening their roster instead of hoarding assets and prospects that don't fit with the current lineup. With Fitzgerald making a lot of moves in the offseason, it's certain that this year's lineup will be far from the failure that was the 2023-24 season. The signing of Beckman is another development that has fans excited about what the 2024-25 season will bring.
