Kevin Rooney returns to New Jersey Devils on professional tryout after career year with Calgary Flames

Kevin Rooney is back where his NHL journey began. The 32-year-old center has accepted a professional tryout offer with the New Jersey Devils, the club that signed him to his first contract back in 2016.

Rooney, fresh off a career year with the Calgary Flames in 2024-25, will look to earn a roster spot as he reunites with his former team this September.

Kevin Rooney gets second chance with New Jersey Devils after breakout season with Calgary Flames

Rooney enjoyed his most productive campaign to date last season in Calgary, appearing in a career-high 70 games while posting five goals and 10 points. Averaging just over nine minutes of ice time per night, he carved out a dependable role as a depth forward after years of battling injuries and lineup uncertainty.

His performance gave him momentum heading into the summer, and now he’ll attempt to translate that into a new NHL contract with New Jersey.This marks a full-circle moment for the Canton, Massachusetts native. Rooney first joined the Devils in 2016 after completing his collegiate career at Providence College. He spent parts of four seasons in the organization, even serving as captain of the AHL’s Binghamton Devils in 2018-19.

His growth in New Jersey helped him secure subsequent contracts with the New York Rangers and later the Flames.

NHL veteran Kevin Rooney’s career defined by resilience and opportunity

Across nine NHL seasons with the Devils, Rangers, and Flames, Rooney has accumulated 32 goals and 60 points in 330 regular-season games. His only postseason action came with the Rangers in 2022, where he chipped in two assists over 15 games during their run to the Eastern Conference Final.Rooney’s tenure in Calgary was marked by ups and downs. After signing in 2022, he played sparingly under then-head coach Darryl Sutter and underwent shoulder surgery that sidelined him for much of the 2023-24 campaign.

Still, he rebounded last year to establish himself as a reliable presence on the Flames’ bottom six.Rooney’s return to the Devils on a tryout basis offers both sides a chance to reconnect. For New Jersey, it’s a low-risk move to add veteran depth and leadership. For Rooney, it’s an opportunity to prove he still belongs in the NHL, and potentially secure a second chapter with the team where it all began.Also Read: Minnesota Wild bring in former Anaheim Ducks forward Brett Leason on PTO ahead of training camp