Devils prospect camp update; Larsson wouldn't mind playing in Albany

The New Jersey Devils are holding their prospect camp in Newark this week, allowing management to get a good look at the organization's younger players prior to the start of training camp. Per Tom Gulitti, participants include:

GOALTENDERS
70-Maxime Clermont
31-Jeff Frazee
50-Keith Kinkaid
60-Scott Wedgewood

DEFENSEMEN
20-Matt Taormina
45-Brandon Burlon
34-Mark Fayne
44-Curtis Gedig
42-Eric Gelinas
33-Seth Helgeson
47-Dan Kelly
38-Matt Killian*
36-Adam Larsson
40-Corbin McPherson
43-Daniel New*
46-Reece Scarlett
37-Joe Sova
22-Alex Urbom
41-Harry Young

FORWARDS
14-Adam Henrique C
15-Stephen Gionta C
16-Jacob Josefson C
21-Mattias Tedenby RW
32-Nick Palmieri RW
71-Scott Arnold LW*
51Justin Barnett LW*
66-J.S. Berube LW
52-Reid Boucher LW
58-Blake Coleman C
39-Bryan Haczyk RW*
57-Mike Hoeffel LW
59-Brett Leonard C*
53Peter McMullen Jr LW*.
64-Kory Nagy LW
67-Thomas Nesbitt RW*
49-Blake Pietila LW
65-Derek Rodwell LW
62-Mike Sislo RW
63-Rem Vanderbeek RW*
54-Joseph Whitney LW*
55-David Wohlberg C
61-Kelly Zajac C*
72-Darcy Zajac RW

*Undrafted, unsigned player

Nice to see the Devils are keeping things in the family with invites to Union College's Kelly Zajac (brother of current NJ Devils forward Travis and Albany Devils forward Darcy), Rem Vanderbeek (son of Devils managing partner Jeff Vanderbeek), and Peter McMullen, Jr. (son of former Devils' owner John McMullen).

Tom Gulitti has lots more news out of prospect camp, noting that forward Mattias Tedenby is not participating due to issues with his visa, while defenseman Jon Merrill is not attending because he is taking summer classes at the University of Michigan.

Gulitti also reported that prized defensive prospect Adam Larsson is working on a deal with the Devils for next season. While he's currently under contract to play in the Swedish Elite League for 2011-12, Larsson has expressed his desire to play in North America, and went as far as saying he would accept an assignment in Albany. From Tom Gulitti:

Larsson made it clear again today that playing here is his preference. In fact, he said he’d even be OK with playing in the American Hockey League with Albany if that was necessary.

“Of course, I would love to be in the NHL, but to play in the American Hockey League would be great too,” Larsson said. “So, that doesn’t bother me.”

According to the European transfer agreement, a first-round draft choice is permitted to be assigned to the AHL by his NHL team. (Picks in Rounds 2-7 must be returned to their European teams if they are not being kept on the NHL roster.) A first-round pick can, however, have a clause specifically negotiated into his NHL contract that allows him to return to his European club rather than be sent to the minors.

Larsson is not one of those who would prefer to return to Sweden rather than ride the buses for a while in the AHL, though.

“No,” Larsson said. “That’s not the plan. If the plan goes well (and he signs in time), then I can play everywhere.”

Larsson's readiness to accept an assignment in Albany rather than return to Sweden is a testament to the American Hockey League, which prides itself as being the top developmental league for the NHL. If we are lucky enough we may see him on Albany ice at some point in 2011-12.

Note: Don Ferlazzo is not an employee of the Albany Devils, nor is this blog sponsored or influenced by the organization in any way.