David Rittich
Rittich is an AHL goalie for now: New Jersey waived him, he cleared, and he was sent to Utica on September 28, so he has no NHL role unless the Devils recall him.
Role
He is in Utica (AHL), per the Devils' transactions post of 28 September. The ESPN line page, indexed four days ago, lists Jake Allen as starter and Remi Poirier as backup, and Rittich does not appear. The Daily Faceoff Devils line page I fetched (updated 25 October) cut off before its goalie section, so I cannot say what it shows. The Hockey Writers piece on Nico Daws says Daws is the Devils' backup this season. I did not find the exact current NHL split between Allen and Daws. Rittich is behind Allen, Daws and Poirier in the organization. He is on a one-way $1 million deal, and his AHL playing time in Utica is not reported in what I found.
He is a proven NHL backup who was 14-10-3 for the Islanders last year, and our data show 30 games and 10 starts. A Pucks and Pitchforks piece called him a perfectly capable spot-starter and noted the Devils' waiver move was driven by the Poirier claim. If Allen or Daws is injured or struggles, he is a ready recall. CBS Sports had him as the projected No. 2 coming into camp, so his demotion was a roster-math move and not obviously a verdict on his play.
Four goalies are not allowed on the roster, and the Devils chose Allen, Daws and Poirier over him. CBS Sports called the waiver move a shock and said it was unclear whether the team now sees him as its No. 4 option. He cleared waivers with no NHL team claiming him. His .894 save percentage last season was below average, he is 34, and the Devils' own reporting calls them a merit-based team. There is no reported path to NHL starts until someone ahead of him falters or gets hurt.
Where analysts split
Broad agreement that he is in the minors. The only open question is whether he is a true No. 4 or the first recall if the Devils' goalie tandem struggles or gets hurt. CBS Sports said that was unclear and I found no later reporting settling it.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
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