The Devils finally return to action tomorrow against the Rangers. The Devils once had over 20 players on the COVID list but they are currently down to just 5 (Nathan Bastian, Nikita Gusev, Nico Hischier, Dmitry Kulikov, Travis Zajac) Bastian was at practice so he is expected to be taken off the list today.
For the first time all season the Devils have all of their goaltenders available. Blackwood, Dell, Wedgewood, and Comrie are all practicing. Dell was sent to Binghamton for a rehab game which he played Friday.
As for Binghamton, there have been some very good news regarding the prospects. Michael Vukojevic has started the season with a goal and 3 assists in the first 3 games. Vukojevic was a 2019 3rd round pick better known for his defensive skills than offense. If he can keep this up he might find his way into NJ at some point next year.
Also fellow 2019 pick Nikita Okhotiuk is off to a strong start as are LW Nolan Foote and RD Reilly Walsh. Another 2019 pick RW Graeme Clarke is expected to be cleared soon. I look forward to seeing how he progresses because he is known as a great shooter. If he can improve his skating he might have a future as a middle six RW in the NHL. His brother Brandt Clarke is a potential top 5 pick in this years draft also.
He had reportedly just begun skating right before the shutdown. I believe he broke his fibula which is the smaller leg bone. The tibia, shin bone, is the front bigger bone. I broke my tibia is high school and the recovery time was 6-8 weeks. It will be interesting to see what happens with Hischier once he comes off the COVID list. I will admit that I am becoming concerned not just because the offense desperately needs him but because he should be back by now.
Let's hope that this isn't worse than reported.
Given the current COVID conditions the Devils (and many teams) should consider claiming him.
If it makes sense even look at a Byron for Butcher swap (if Butcher is still persona non grata in NJ).
Byron is super fast, plays LW or RW, plays PK, relentless forechecker, solid 3rd line winger.
Given the current COVID conditions the Devils (and many teams) should consider claiming him.
If it makes sense even look at a Byron for Butcher swap (if Butcher is still persona non grata in NJ).
Byron is super fast, plays LW or RW, plays PK, relentless forechecker, solid 3rd line winger.
Byron would be a solid fit in the Devils system. My concern is that he has two seasons left after this at $3.4 million each. The Devils are in good cap space now but they will need to extend Hughes soon plus Gusev, Palmieri, and Kulikov are FA at season's end.
I thought overall the contract was a plus, but it obviously depends as you point out.
I thought overall the contract was a plus, but it obviously depends as you point out.
Normally that's a very fair cap hit for a player of his caliber but if the cap shrinks it is going to make things difficult for many teams.
Zajac has been surprisingly good so far this season so he is actually a pretty big loss especially with Hischier out. I wonder if the Devils will give McLeod time as the 2nd line center. He has been one of the biggest surprises IMO and he is playing with far more confidence.
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Sounds like every Devil besides Zajac will be off the list by the end of the day as 4 of the 5 still on it practiced today. Zajac and Palms evidently had Covid, symptoms and all.
Zajac has been surprisingly good so far this season so he is actually a pretty big loss especially with Hischier out. I wonder if the Devils will give McLeod time as the 2nd line center. He has been one of the biggest surprises IMO and he is playing with far more confidence.
Agreed they will miss him. Seems like he's the last one on the list. Vatanen skated at practice today. Will be interesting to see if he makes his debut tomorrow. Its gonna be a tough haul from here on out with a really condensed schedule. They're gonna really need Dell or Wedgewood if they're gonna make noise at all.
Maple Leafs have been sniffing for another winger to go into playoffs, I'd look for their 1st given it will be a late rounder for sure.
Maple Leafs have been sniffing for another winger to go into playoffs, I'd look for their 1st given it will be a late rounder for sure.
Don't think this is such a bad take. Small sample size, but Palms has not looked good this year. You do need some vets to play with all the youth they have however it will be a tough call in Palms and a long term deal.
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but I think Devs need to NOT give Palmieri a longer term extension. He's struggled so far and looks like he wants to win and I don't see him fitting in as the Devils retool. Weird pandemic season but I'd move him even if just for a decent prospect and a 2nd rounder.
Maple Leafs have been sniffing for another winger to go into playoffs, I'd look for their 1st given it will be a late rounder for sure.
Don't think this is such a bad take. Small sample size, but Palms has not looked good this year. You do need some vets to play with all the youth they have however it will be a tough call in Palms and a long term deal.
I think he may also want a chance to try a run at a Cup. He's turned 30 this season and I'm not sure he's getting a real long-term (ie 5 yr deal in this economic climate) and because it seems the Devils want to try and maximize flexibility in next two years once Subban's deal also comes off and they need to extend Hughes and so they can try and make some competitive additions.
Devils have guys like Foote/Mercer/Holtz knocking on the door next year or two along with other guys coming up now like McLeod who may not be such a forgotten man anymore.
Not a Gusev fan. Made some steps last season but not enough and he's also a bit iffy on his skates.
Maple Leafs have been sniffing for another winger to go into playoffs, I'd look for their 1st given it will be a late rounder for sure.
I actually agree with you depending on how Palmieri finishes. I would add Gusev to the list also. Both have struggled thus far and unless they finish strong like they did last season I would look to trade both by the deadline. I would like to see Nolan Foote promoted to play alongside Hughes.
Palmieri really struggled when playing with Hughes which is very surprising to me. Hopefully Palmieri will return to form once Hischier returns and they are linemates once again. Palmieri plays much better alongside Hischier.
Once the team is fully healthy I would like to see Ruff reform the Gusev Zacha Bratt line from last year. All three took off last season when they were lined up together.
They are going to make it up. Imagine the fan reaction if the Devils missed the playoffs by 2 points but had 5 games canceled. They are going to have quite a lot of back to back games over the remainder of the season.
They would have to delay the playoffs to get the games in. The opposing teams would also be missing games and potentially a playoff spot too.
Imagine missing out on an NFL wildcard spot because your team only played 15 instead of 16 games? Holy shit..
That's great news. Hischier was placed on the Covid list on Feb. 8th so he should be cleared by the weekend.
That’s the most disappointing news. I was expecting Blackwood to start tonight but now it sounds like the Devils will hold him out a few more days. Also Dell isn’t expected to start tonight either so we will likely see Comrie or Wedgewood. Kulikov and Gusev skated yesterday so hopefully they are cleared for the next game and we will no longer see Tennyson on the ice.
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Blackwood said it hit him hard in his chest, took his breath away. That's worrisome in terms of his conditioning and ability to play a lot in the condensed schedule.
That’s the most disappointing news. I was expecting Blackwood to start tonight but now it sounds like the Devils will hold him out a few more days. Also Dell isn’t expected to start tonight either so we will likely see Comrie or Wedgewood. Kulikov and Gusev skated yesterday so hopefully they are cleared for the next game and we will no longer see Tennyson on the ice.
He did also say he's feeling much better and ready to go. A shame if he doesn't play tonight. We do catch a break with no Panarin tonight for the Rangers. Also some other guys talking about having Covid- Hughes and Severson definately had it. Both said they are fine now and have been symtom free for a week. This clearly was not a case of 1 or 2 having it and the rest being deemed close contacts. Clearly a bunch tested positive. Man did the NHL botch this that weekend in Buffalo. However the Sabres blaming the Devils is pathetic.
Kuokkanen struggled in his first two games this season but he has been significantly better since with 6 points in his last 5 games. Let’s hope that he can keep up his strong play.
This season has been a lot of fun watching these young kids contribute.
Yep just in time too. Boston Thursday then the Caps twice in less than a week.thats why these 2 points were so big. I agree on Butcher. I know Tennyson has a strong +/- but the advanced stats are not kind to him.
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The Devils should be at full strength. Hischier, Gusev, Kulikov, Murray, and Vatanen will be back.
Yep just in time too. Boston Thursday then the Caps twice in less than a week.thats why these 2 points were so big. I agree on Butcher. I know Tennyson has a strong +/- but the advanced stats are not kind to him.
The Devils were struggling to score with Hischier out plus not having Bratt early on. The Devils needed offense from wherever they could get it and that’s where Butcher provides value. If Tennyson was at least great defensively then I could live with him but he really is an AHL player not someone who should be playing every night.
I am disappointed that they removed Merkley from the active roster as the Kuokkanen Zacha and Merkley line played very well last night.
I am disappointed that they removed Merkley from the active roster as the Kuokkanen Zacha and Merkley line played very well last night.
Yeah surprising move there, but with Gusev and Nico back soon I guess they won't have a spot. Yeah as I said with Tennyson the advanced stats don't treat him well. Hopefully with Vats hopefully in the lineup Thursday his time comes to an end. Shero and now Fitzgerald deserve a lot of credit they really have filled the orginization with a real hungry hard working army of bottom 6 fwds some of which have sneaky good skills and a franchise goalie. Now our top 6 talent and lack of an elite Dman will likely keep us out of the playoffs in what is the toughest division in hockey this year but hopefully the future is bright.
I actually like the Devils D prospects as Ty Smith looks like a future top pairing defenseman, he played there against the Rangers, plus Kevin Bahl, Shakir Mukhamadullin, Nikita Okhotiuk, Reilly Walsh, and Michael Vukojevic but I seriously doubt any of them develop into a great #1 defensemen. Btw I don’t know if you saw Reilly Walsh’s coast to coast goal versus Ilya Samsonov last night but you should check it out.
Johnsson - Hughes - Bratt
Kuokkanen - Zacha - Palmieri
Sharangovitch - Zajac - Gusev
Wood - McLeod - Bastian
Murray - Subban
Smith - Severson
Kulikov - Vatanen
Blackwood
Johnsson - Hughes - Bratt
Kuokkanen - Zacha - Palmieri
Sharangovitch - Zajac - Gusev
Wood - McLeod - Bastian
Murray - Subban
Smith - Severson
Kulikov - Vatanen
Blackwood
Yep saw yesterday that Nico is the only one left on the list. Hopefully he'll be off it this weekend. Yea seems like Walsh exploded at Binghamton. He's piling up the highlight reel goals. He and Smith have 1st pairing upside with puck moving skills that should be a good compliment to Bahl's size and physicality.
I don’t know if this is true or not but I heard a rumor that Hischier will be back Tuesday vs Buffalo. When the team is completely healthy I hope the lineup is:
Johnsson Hischier Palmieri
Sharangovich Hughes Bratt
Kuokkanen Zacha Gusev
Wood McLeod Bastian
Murray Subban
Smith Severson
Kulikov Vatanen
Blackwood
Dell
I would love to see Kuokkanen with Hughes and Bratt but I don’t want to break up kuokkanen and Zacha who have played better together plus Gusev played his best last season when paired with Zacha.
I am not buying in yet but Zacha looks much better this season. Let’s hope that this continues and this isn’t just another 12-15 game tease. He’s not going to be the top line center the Devils hoped but he could still be a very good 3rd line center.
Huge win and Blackwood must be surprised that he only faced 27 shots against the best team in the division. Hopefully this gets Palmieri going.
Johnsson should have had a goal tonight as Hughes set him up perfectly but Johnsson just missed.
Finally I don’t think there is a goalie in the league right now that is playing better than Blackwood. The first goal was not his fault as it was a terrible turnover by Palmieri in his own zone.
It’s only been two games but Butcher looks much better than he did last season. Who knows maybe the benching this season was the wake up call he needed.