We are back(!) for the 2021-2022 season! And I hope I still have some readers after falling off the earth following just the third post last year and not providing any updates over the summertime.
Please empathize – the significant career move I made back in February genuinely ate up my ability to devote enough time to the blog.
I can promise you this: I have been very much following the Devils during the entirety of my hiatus, and I am excited to share my opinions and thoughts around what has transpired.
So, where do we start?!
The NJD will kick-off their 2021-2022 campaign tonight at Prudential Center against the Chicago Blackhawks.
Let’s start with my feelings about that and then segue into all of the significant changes the franchise has undergone since my last post.
I am EXCITED for the game tonight. There is so much to be excited about as an NHL fan this season, before we even get to the Devils.
We have (mostly) put the last two seasons of COVID abnormalities behind us. No more shortened seasons or reduced capacities in arenas. Pair that with an Olympic year that will allow NHL players to represent their countries after having restricted them from doing so in 2018.
And don’t forget about the enormously significant new NHL broadcast partners this season: ESPN & TNT.
For the NHL to be back on ESPN is just flat-out awesome for the sport. I was listening to the Spittin’ Chiclets podcast episode from last week featuring John Buccigross from ESPN. Bucci said it best: ESPN is intertwined with American society. You’re in an airport, a barber shop, a local restaurant – ESPN is often being broadcast on one of the TVs. And now our beloved sport will be in bed with the most important sports media company in the country, for the next 7 seasons.
TNT fits right into that vein as well. After orchestrating arguably the most successful sports broadcast team in recent memory for the NBA featuring American sweethearts Charles Barkely and Shaqille O’Neal, the Turner media company is looking to follow suit with the NHL. I watched their debut broadcast on Wednesday night and I was thoroughly entertained. How can you go wrong with a panel of Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bisonette, Liam McHugh, Rick Tocchet, and Anson Carter?
Because it’s worth mentioning is name twice, Paul Bisonette is the fucking best.
Between TNT & ESPN you have two of the greatest players of all time in Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier providing in-depth analysis. Long overdue and so good for the sport.
And how could we forget there is a brand new expansion franchise debuting in Seattle?
Anyway, you get the point – this is a huge year for the NHL. I’m excited.
Now, let’s get down to the Devils.
Here is an as-quick-as-I-can rundown of the significant changes since last year and the biggest storylines for New Jersey. Okay, deep breath in:
- The Devils traded away Mikhail Malstev and a 2021 2nd rounder to Colorado for Ryan Graves (loved this move)
- The Devils lost energy line youngster Nathan Bastain in the expansion draft to Seattle (meh, didn’t love it but we were going to lose someone)
- Two days later, the Devils drafted Luke Hughes, Jack Hughes’ younger brother, 4th overall in the NHL entry draft (fuck yeah) and also Chase Stillman at 29th overall (TBD)
- The Devils traded away Will Butcher to Buffalo
- The Devils were ACTIVE in free agency landing (drum roll please):
- Free agency crown jewel DOUGIE HAMILTON (LFG)
- Goalie Jonathan Bernier (like it a lot)
- Tomas Tatar (low risk, why not, like it)
Okay, gasping for air. Deep breath again.
The Devils entered camp with some really interesting personnel questions. This year’s camp featured a ton of intriguing prospects and guys that are finally “coming of age.” In that core group of potentially franchise significant players who were competing for spots:
- Former 2020 draft first rounders Alexander Holtz (7th overall) and Dawson Mercer (18th overall)
- Tyce Thompson
- Marian Studenic
- Graeme Clarke
- Nolan Foote
- Jesper Boqvist (who had been penciled in for a spot)
- Kevin Bahl
- Colton White
- Reilly Walsh
- Nikita Okhotiuk
And guess what happened (as of this writing). The prospects, and a few in particular, looked good. Like really good. Enough to really force the coaches hand from likely what had been penciled in as a tentative roster.
Incumbent NHL forward Jesper Boqvist, who at this point you have to think has taken over sole ownership of the title, “Devils most frustrating prospect” from Pavel Zacha, was sent down to the AHL.
Thanks to the play of Dawson Mercer, Tyce Thompson, Marian Studenic, and pro-tryout (and former Hobey Baker winner) Jimmy Vesey, the Devils bottom six has some intriguing names.
And there is really none more intriguing than Mr. Mercer. The 19-year-old has electrified the franchise really since a very impressive OHL playoff performance last season where he scored six goals and 17 points in nine contests. He was similarly impressive on a loaded Team Canada WJC roster earlier in the season, where he had six points in seven games and was lauded for his two-way game.
Mercer continued his strong play during the Devils annual summer rookie tournament in Buffalo, where he was tabbed as a man amongst boys and far and away the Devils best player.
His case to make the opening night roster continued with a near-perfect camp, where he scored two goals and three points in three preseason games. His play at both ends of the ice has been more than impressive and he has drawn comparisons to Mark Stone from some of the Devils brass for his non-stop motor and elite (too early?) hockey sense, and ability to intercept and breakup plays on the forecheck.
The Devils had a 3rd line center position to fill with the departure and retirement of long-time franchise legend Travis Zajac. On tryout for that position included the likes of Zacha, Boqvist, Michael McLeod, PTO Mark Jankowski, and Mercer. With all the buzz around Mercer and him looking more NHL-ready than originally thought, the question that was left to answer was: does it make sense to keep him on as a 4th line center or give him top-quality all-situations minutes in the AHL?
Well, Dawson let his play throughout camp answer that question, and looks poised to start the season in the 3C position. From what it looks like in practice leading up to tonight’s opener, head coach Lindy Ruff has paired the youngster with two veteran NHL wingers in Tomas Tatar and Andreas Johnsson. He has also been getting reps on the 2nd power play unit.
But Mercer is not the only exciting name to have made the Devils 23-man roster. Tyce Thompson, 2019 4th rounder and former captain of Providence College, also made the team with an impressive camp. Slovakian-born 2017 fifth rounder Marian Studenic has a spot. And the aforementioned highly-touted Jimmy Vesey earned a spot after signing a pro-tryout contract with the Devils. Mainly due to injuries on the back end, 2015 fourth round pick Colton White looks also set to play in the team’s season opener tonight.
Alex Holtz, the 7th overall pick in the 2020 draft looked very impressive as well. He had two goals and four points in three preseason games and looked like he belonged. He was amongst the very last cuts the Devils made. But this one makes a bit more sense. Holtz’s game is not quite up to snuff in all areas the way Mercer’s seems to be. And although Holtz may be more ready than Mercer to contribute offensively, why have a top six forward play 13-14 minutes per night when he could go down to Utica and be the top forward, score lots of goals and grow his game?
I have a strong feeling we will see Alexander Holtz up with the big club at some point this season, and by no means does his not making the opening night roster have any bad feelings attached.
Unfortunately, the Devils did not have the same luck dodging the injury bug in camp. Significant NHL-roster players look to be out for the season opener, including: Damon Severson, Ty Smith, Miles Wood, and #1 goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood.
They all appear to be minor, and should not keep any of them out long-term, however, it’s certainly not ideal to have your starting goalie, two top-four defensemen, and a veteran forward who brings the most energy to your group all out of the opening night lineup.
Based on practice reports, here is a preview of what I would expect to see for tonight’s game:
Zacha-Hischier-Bratt
Sharangovich-Hughes-Kuokkanen
Tatar-Mercer-Johnsson
Studenic-McLeod-Vesey
Graves-Hamilton
Seigenthaler-Subban
White-Jaros
Bernier
Wedgewood
You’ll notice, having Severson-Smith out really tests our defensive depth. With them, the top 6 is impressive, but as soon as you lose one or two guys, you lose a lot of confidence. I’m not sold on White or Jaros being solid fill-ins for long periods of time.
The only change we might see before tonight would be on that fourth line. My guess is that the coaching staff had Tyce Thompson penciled in there prior to him dealing with an injury this past week. I’m speculative that’s why they kept Studenic around.
The forward depth is a bit better than the defense. A healthy Miles Wood and Tyce Thompson gives you an intriguing fourth line of:
Wood-McLeod-Vesey or Thompson
And for the first time in many years, we have a non-Mackenzie Blackwood goaltender in the net who I genuinely feel very confident about.
I’m very excited for tonight, here’s what I’ll be watching for:
How the team plays in front of a proven veteran goaltender who is also not named Mackenzie Blackwood. Bernier was brought in to fill the role originally intended for now-retired goalie Corey Crawford last year – provide competent relief to Blackwood and be a veteran presence to compete with him and push his game along.
How good Dougie Hamilton looks. I’m admittedly disappointed with the Smith/Severson pair out. The real value of Dougie Hamilton this season could manifest in how well Smith & Severson are able to play together, since they should be able to feast on the opponents’ lesser players every night with Graves-Hamilton handling the top offensive players.
Dawson Mercer. I mean, it’s just exciting. A 19-year-old first round draft pick whose development looks way ahead of schedule. When was the last time we were able to say that as Devils fans (aside from Hischier & Hughes)? Playing with two capable veteran forwards who are both offensive contributors should give Mercer a nice floor in his NHL debut.
The top two lines. Hischier, Zacha, Bratt were a really successful trio down the stretch last year. I’m hopeful this is an impact line all year. Ditto Sharangovich-Hughes-Kuokkanen. Hughes proved he can drive a line regardless of linemates last year, but these three were impressive together nonetheless.
Improved power play. With Dougie Hamilton quarterbacking the top unit, Jack Hughes should be able to really get going. It can’t be worse than last year, right?
Let’s wrap this up with some expectations for 2021-2022. I’ll dive into more predictions in the coming blogs, but for now let’s tackle the big one.
Are The Devils A Playoff Team?!
Here’s the deal. Here is how I look at the roster. The Devils have probably seven important players on the roster who are trying to prove last year’s breakout was not a fluke. Those players are: Zacha, Wood, Bratt, Smith, McLeod, Sharangovich, and Kuokkanen.
The Devils have three important players trying to prove last year was a fluke. Those players are Tomas Tatar, Andreas Johnsson, and Mackenzie Blackwood.
And the Devils two most important players in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier still need to prove they have another level or two to creep into “elite” territory.
That means there could be a wide range of outcomes for an enormous chunk of the roster this year.
It seems unlikely ALL of the above takes place. If most of it happens, the Devils in my mind are a playoff team. If we have some lackluster performances combined with untimely injuries, we could be in for another disappointing season.
GM Tom Fitzgerald and head coach Lindy Ruff have talked at length about playing meaningful games in March and April. That means in the playoff hunt.
I think that is the right goal to have. I expect more accountability from the coaching staff on the players this year as all of the aforementioned “breakout” guys will now be counted on to be more consistent and there will be less tolerance for mistakes in a year where expectations have increased.
Bernier’s presence cannot be understated for providing quality goaltending when Blackwood is not in the net. We’re in game 1 and that is already apparent. Blackwood’s vaccination status is still up in the air, so Bernier’s importance could take on added meaning if #29 stays unvaccinated.
And while I still think the Devils are at the mercy of going as far as Hischier and Hughes take them, there is less pressure on those two this year with a much improved supporting cast.
For now, we’ve got nothing but hope.
Here’s to a new season. Go Devils.
Word Of The Devil 