As the New Jersey Devils gear up for another offseason of roster decisions, all eyes turn to the team's unrestricted free agents. This time, we're breaking down two depth forwards who spent most of their season shuttling between the NHL and AHL: Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin. Both players brought grit and two-way play to Utica, but neither made a huge splash at the NHL level. The big question remains: do they still have untapped potential for the Devils, or is it time for New Jersey to move on? Let's lace up and take a closer look.

First up, Brian Halonen. An undrafted free agent out of Michigan Tech, Halonen signed with the Devils in the spring of 2022 after a solid four-year college career. He got his first taste of pro hockey on an amateur tryout with Utica, notching two goals and an assist in 12 games. His first full season in 2022-23 was a strong one, with 17 goals and 13 assists in 57 AHL games, plus a goal and an assist in six playoff contests. The following year, despite limited to 35 games, he scored 20 goals and added nine assists—earning him his first NHL call-up. He played two games with New Jersey but was held scoreless.

Fast forward to the 2024-25 season, and Halonen was a bright spot on a struggling Utica team. Playing in 62 games, he notched 27 goals and 13 assists for 40 points. He got another brief NHL stint, again going scoreless in two games. This past season, he continued to produce at the AHL level, reaching the 20-goal mark for the third time in his pro career, with 14 assists in 51 games. The highlight? Halonen finally broke through with his first NHL goal and assist during a 15-game stint with New Jersey this season. At 6-foot and 207 pounds, he brings a physical presence and a nose for the net—but is that enough to earn a permanent spot in the Devils' lineup?

For a team like New Jersey, every depth piece matters, especially when building a championship contender. Halonen's production in the AHL shows he can score, but his limited NHL time hasn't yet translated to consistent offense. Whether he can develop into a reliable bottom-six forward remains the key question for Devils management this summer.