One In, One Out As Devils Start Summer Rebuild

Former Boston Bruins centre-man Jamie Arniel is joining Cardiff Devils. Pic: Imago.

One In, One Out As Devils Start Summer Rebuild

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By Matthew Burgess

Former Boston Bruins centre-man Jamie Arniel has become the Cardiff Devils first new signing of the summer.

The 33-year-old links up with the Devils having faced new coach Pete Russell in Germany’s DEL2 league last season.

Whilst Russell was behind the bench of the Ravensburg Towerstars, Ontario-born Arniel was skating for the regular season champions Kassel Huskies, where he posted 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points in 47 games last season.

“I coached against Jamie and know what I am getting, which is a quality two-way forward that has offensive output, but also is good defensively and plays with a bit bite,” explained Russell.

The right-handed shooter was a fourth round NHL draft pick of the Bruins. After four seasons in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), Arniel turned pro with Boston’s farm team Providence Bruins playing three years in the American Hockey League (AHL). He played a single game in the NHL for the Bruins in the 2010-11 season.

Arniel moved to Europe in 2012-13 to play for Eisbaren Berlin where he won the DEL Championship. He had a year in Finland before finding a home in Dornbirner EC in the Austrian League (IceHL) where he played for five seasons, finishing at or near the top of the team’s scoring chart each season.

Arniel started the 2021-22 season with the Bratislava Capitals then moved to HK Poprad in the top Slovakian league. He only played 37 games with Poprad but finished second in scoring with 20 goals and 21 assists.

“Jamie was a top player on a top team in the DEL2 last season. He can score, he makes his teammates better, plays 200ft and he plays in every situation. He is exactly the type of person and player we are looking for.”

REID DEPARTS DEVILS

Brodie Reid will not be returning to the Cardiff Devils next season after French side Angers Ducs announced they have signed the 33-year-old forward.

Reid struggled to replicate his best form last season yet still produced 18 goals and 29 assists for 47 points in 52 games.

In two seasons at Cardiff, Reid recorded 106 points (49 goals, 57 assists) in 104 games in the Elite Games.

He might not be the only player to depart from last season’s roster with rumours suggesting veteran defenceman Mark Louis could also be about to set to sign with a new team.

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