Two names to keep an eye out for: Mark Fayne & TJ Miller

Editor's Note: Not only is this promoted to the front page, but I added some videos of both players from Youtube after the jump. Good job to C.J. for this heads-up on two of the lesser known Devils prospects.

Mark Fayne and T.J. Miller. Both of them are defensemen who recently finished their senior year at college. Both have had pretty successful college careers topped off with fantastic senior years.  I would be surprised if these two weren't signed in the near future but they will have a lot of competition.

Before I get to Fayne and Miller a quick run down of the Devils defensive depth.  The Devils just recently signed two defensemen in 2009 2nd rounder Eric Gelinas and undrafted Dan Kelly. Along with those two players the Devils have 4 other prospect defensemen signed for next year (Corrente, Young, Urbom, and Taormina).  Also add on to this list of defensemen veteran AHLer Rob Davison. And don't forget RFAs Tyler Eckford and Olivier Magnan both will mostly be back next season.  There is also Anssi Salmela and RFA Mark Fraser.  Those two will probably remain in the NHL though but could be moved back down to the AHL. In total the Devils have 6 prospect defenseman singed for next year, 3 RFA defensemen, 1 young NHL defensemen, and 1 older AHL defensemen.  All 11 of these players will probably be spread throughout the NHL, AHL, and ECHL next year.

Mark Fayne was drafted straight out of high school in the 5th round of the 2005 draft.  He was the first Devils draftee to be drafted right out of high school since Paul Martin in 2000.  That one worked out pretty well.  Fayne than went on to play at Providence college which probably earned him some bonus points with Lou.  His first 3 years there were pretty average.  His freshman year he totaled 12 pts in 36 games, sophomore year 6 pts in 36 games, and junior year 9 pts in 33 games.  He really broke out in his senior year though putting up 5 goals and 17 assists in 34 games.  He was third on his team with 22 pts and led his team in assists.  Fayne is listed as 6' 3" 220 lbs at his Providence College profile page.

T.J. Miller was drafted out of the BCHL in the 4th round of the 2006 draft.  He went on to play at Northern Michigan University in 06-07 and put up pretty decent freshman numbers.  He had 2 goals and 14 assists in 37 games.  He then had a 9 pt sophomore year(42 games) and only 2 pts in an injury plagued junior year (12 games). Like Fayne, Miller had an excellent senior year with a  career high 4 goals along with 13 assists.  He also led the team with 80 blocked shots (Providence College didn't have blocked shots listed).  Miller like Fayne is a big guy, listed at 6' 4" 220 on his NMU profile page.

Miller and Fayne have a lot of similarities.  They are both big, US born defenders who aren't really offensive powerhouses but can still contribute.  They are both coming of good senior years and looking to be signed by the Devils.  But with the Devils depth at defense they may not be signed and if they are they will have to fight to even make the roster in Albany. 

Mark Fayne talks to Hockey East Online about his role with highlights:

Here's one of T.J. Miller's 4 goals from last season: