Devils return top pick Stefan Matteau to juniors

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The New Jersey Devils have returned first-round draft pick Stefan Matteau to his junior hockey team.

The Devils announced Sunday that Matteau was being assigned to Blainville-Boisbriand of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, where he will participate in the playoffs. He had 18 goals in 35 games with the Armada before the NHL lockout ended.

The son of former New York Rangers forward Stephane Matteau played in 17 of the Devils' 29 games this season, scoring a goal and adding two assists. He had 10 shifts and played 5 minutes, 11 seconds in Saturday night's 2-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. He was on the ice for one of the Canadiens' goals.

Matteau would be eligible to return to the Devils after the junior playoffs.