With the final roster set for the season, my mantra for 2021, instead of “eNJoy the ride”, is “eNJoy the unexpected” and “the season for progression.” The Devils taxi squad does look really competitive in various ways with four players I’ll keep tabs on here.
Mikhail Maltsev has shown he can be a very strong, physical body who can protect pucks while able to drive play. He’s someone I’d start out on the fourth or third line when a Devils forward needs to take a night off. Mikhail Maltsev had a dandy of a goal over a preseason ago at Madison Square Garden, putting him on the map for a lot of Devils fans. If he can get in some games, I think he would help a ton against some East Division teams. The Russian winger could be a key that helps New Jersey play that fast and heavy Russian style of hockey in a tough division.
Nolan Foote is the next guy you need to keep tabs on because he’s the kind of prospect Tampa Bay gave up in the deal which sent Blake Coleman the other way to the Lightning. Foote is pretty darn good skater and is going to gain a lot experience working with Mark Recchi and head coach Lindy Ruff. One of the things people need to take notice of is that Nolan Foote has a very heavy shot, one that can prove to be very lethal. The next attribute to look at is his build, where he’s gonna add that youthful, big body, speed and power. If the Devils need reinforcements on their wings, Nolan Foote would be a big blessing in disguise.
Gilles Senn is likely going to be the backup goalie if Eric Comrie or Scott Wedgewood can’t be present during parts of the season. The Swiss goaltender has a big frame, but his mechanics last year just weren’t quite there for him while playing under a very decimated defence. My hunch is if goaltending coach Dave Rogalski improves Senn’s positioning and his glove side, he can become a reliable backup.
Nick Merkley, who came in the Taylor Hall package, fine tuned his game with Assat in Finland’s Liiga (highest level of professional hockey in Finland), scoring 13 points on four goals in 19 games, which is very impressive. Merkley can bring that bottom-six grit and blue collar game that the Devils started tapping into last year after he was acquired from the Arizona Coyotes.
The forward depth, I am really beginning to like with the average age of 24.5-years-old. This creates a really good problem, with guys like Yegor Sharangovich (22), Jack Hughes (19), and the oldest forward is Kyle Palmieri (35). The rest of that roster not only is very young, but there is a lot of talent, skill and plenty of potential for near-term and long-term growth.
The defence so far is 27.2 year of age on average as the team hits the ice to start the season on Thursday. Ty Smith, 20-years-old, is the youngest of the defenders on the current roster, meanwhile, P.K. Subban, 31, is the oldest defensemen on the roster at this time. I’m expecting to see Will Butcher bounce back and Dmitry Kulikov provide the veteran stability on the team’s left side. Will this be Damon Severson’s best year defensively while managing the puck better? Well, the games will only tell the story, and if three of those left-handed defensemen can prove doubters wrong, the Devils could easily prove to be a middle of the pack team.
Goaltending, at this point, we all know Mackenzie Blackwood is the starter moving forward. He was able to prove critics last year, being able to keep the Devils in games that could have very easily been labeled as lost causes. Blackwood is 24-years-old and is beginning to hit his prime. In 47 games last season, he recorded a GAA of 2.77. He added a .915 save percentage, which in comparison to 2018-19, is close to his .918 save percentage in 27 games with a 2.61 GAA.
The Devils backups, Eric Comrie and Scott Wedgewood, likely won’t be sufficient enough to be very reliable backups. Look for the Devils to make external options via trade and free agency for someone who has skill, experience and the potential to be a 1B starter, or even a really reliable backup. But don’t be surprised if Scott Wedgewood gets to play in more backup role games if GM Tom Fitzgerald can’t find any takers to pluck any of the goaltenders.
So, at this point, I can see the New Jersey Devils in the middle of the East because the amount of fresh bodies they have on offence, and the defensive core in still intact, meanwhile, Ty Smith will get lots of ice time and experience. I’m projecting the Devils to be fourth to sixth in the East, but being a very competitive team in a tough division.