FEATURE: Walsh Eager to Join Jersey, Acclimate to Pros

It feels damn good when you achieve your dream.

And that's why Reilly Walsh is riding high right now. For him, the dream was to become a professional hockey player, a moment realized on Monday when the 21-year-old defenseman signed his entry-level contract with the New Jersey Devils franchise. His decision to leave Harvard after three seasons allows him to join the Devils at training camp to compete for either an NHL or American Hockey League roster spot.

"It's been a good process here trying to figure this out," Walsh said of his decision. "It's been kind of a whirlwind few weeks, but just to put pen to paper has been an amazing feeling and to have it go public on Monday, it's just awesome. I'm super excited and it's something I've been dreaming about since I started playing when I was a kid. So it's just unbelievable."

Walsh played prep hockey in the New Hampshire school system for Proctor Academy, where his father, Mike Walsh, has coached since 2012-13. He left Proctor during the 2016-17 season, and enjoyed a 24-game stint for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. The Devils selected the blueliner in the third round with the 81st overall pick in the NHL Draft. Since then, Walsh has been developing in the NCAA.

"We are excited to add Reilly to the Devils organization," said Devils Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. "Since being drafted in 2017, our staff has watched him blossom into the leader he is today, both on and off the ice."

In 2017-18, he was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team and followed his freshman campaign with back-to-back NCAA All-Ivy League Honorable Mention Team nominations. He compiled 27 goals and 51 assists for 78 points in 96 games from the backend in college.

For the Devils, the signing of Walsh brings one of their top defensive prospects closer to the NHL, even if he will likely need seasoning in the AHL to adjust to the professional game. Regardless, the Devils are excited about his future in New Jersey.

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"Walsh is a fast, puck-moving defenseman who has developed his all-around game this past season," said Fitzgerald. "He was a dynamic playmaker for Harvard, with an offensive mind that allowed him to easily transition and jump up into the play if needed. He has the skillset our club is looking for and adds to our stable of defensive professional prospects joining the organization."

Walsh says his next few months ahead of training camp are important for him, and that is something he spoke about with Fitzgerald.

"I think the biggest thing for him and I was what can I do in the weeks, almost months prior to the scheduled training camp," Walsh said. "We kind of worked on a plan where I'm going to be coming into Jersey and figuring out living and all that stuff. These next couple of weeks, [I plan on] coming in and starting to get acclimated with the staff, the equipment, and everything that goes into it, and then start skating with some of the guys that are there now."

Walsh is hoping to dip his toe into the NHL waters as quickly as possible, no matter what that looks like in this odd offseason.

"[I'm trying to get] as much exposure I can get to NHL hockey or pro hockey in general," he said. "I figured, why not try to prepare myself as best I can to be my best once training camp starts."

Lucky for Walsh, he has familiarity with Fitzgerald and the Devils organization, having participated in three development camps as a young prospect.

"The camps I've been to have been amazing," he said. "[We have] good training, and we do a lot of good team bonding. I'm excited to see some of the guys that I've been meeting at camps, but we [have gone] our separate ways after that. I'm just really excited to be a part of it all and actually be signed and a part of the organization instead of just a college kid coming in for a week. I'm really excited to be a part of the family."

With his deal signed, Reilly is most certainly an official part of the Devils family, and he's hoping to make an impact on the club soon.

"I'm really excited to get down there and start working."