A Strategic Reinforcement for the Devils
The New Jersey Devils announced the re‑signing of Topias Vilen to a one‑year, two‑way contract for the 2026‑27 season, guaranteeing $175,000 while offering $850,000 at the NHL level and $150,000 in the AHL.
At 23, Vilen wraps up his third full season in North America, having posted a career‑high 27 points with Utica of the AHL and earning his first NHL appearance in a brief two‑game stint earlier this year.
Drafted in the fifth round of the 2021 NHL Draft, the Finnish blueliner has steadily progressed from the Liiga to the AHL, where his 61 games and four goals marked personal bests, and he now looks to translate that success to the NHL roster.
Internationally, Vilen has represented Finland at multiple junior tournaments, serving as assistant captain at the 2021 World Junior Championship and contributing to the country's campaign at the 2023 World Junior Championship.
General manager Sunny Mehta praised the move, saying the organization values Vilen’s defensive reliability and offensive upside, and expects him to compete for a regular spot on the blue line.