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Neil Villapiano

Neil Villapiano covers the New Jersey Devils for The Hockey Writers. He is an established Sports Broadcaster, host, analyst, writer, and author of three published books. He is the host of the Devils State of Mind Podcast which covers his favorite team, the New Jersey Devils. He's been following hockey and the Devils since he was very young. He has certification in Sports Broadcasting and Journalism from Hofstra University. He's also writing for Big Apple Hockey and has previously worked for Inside the Puck covering the New Jersey Devils. He brings passion, enthusiasm and a unique look into the world of hockey in every media he's a part of. He's very big on writing opinion/discussion pieces that get fans to not just interact with the author, but with other fans as well on a multitude of different topics.

Ranking the 2023-24 Devils’ Top 4 Defensemen

Neil Villapiano | August 29, 2023

Despite losing Damon Severson and Ryan Graves to free agency, the New Jersey Devils still possess a strong defensive core. The back end is something that general manager Tom Fitzgerald…

Categories New Jersey Devils, Season Previews

Devils’ Vitek Vanecek Poised for a Bounce-Back Season

Neil Villapiano | August 22, 2023

The New Jersey Devils are certainly ready to compete for that elusive Stanley Cup. The top six is one of the best in the NHL. Their defensive core is still…

Categories New Jersey Devils, Season Previews

One for the Ages: Taylor Hall’s 2017-18 MVP Season

Neil Villapiano | August 19, 2023

On June 29, 2016, New Jersey Devils then-general manager Ray Shero made one of the big trades during that summer by acquiring former No. 1 overall pick Taylor Hall from…

Categories Devils History, Hockey History

New Jersey Devils’ Diamond in the Rough Arseni Gritsyuk

Neil Villapiano | August 15, 2023

The New Jersey Devils have one of the best prospect pools in the entire NHL. This, combined with the fact that the team has one of the best lineups currently…

Categories Devils Prospects

Former Devils’ Cory Schneider’s Prime Was Better Than You Think

Neil Villapiano | August 11, 2023

On June 30, 2013, the New Jersey Devils were in the midst of a transition. After losing in the Stanley Cup Final in 2012, the team lost their beloved captain…

Categories Devils History

Devils’ Jack Hughes Will Be a Perennial Hart Trophy Candidate

Neil Villapiano | August 8, 2023

It is safe to say that New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes has become a superstar in the NHL. He is coming off his coming out party in 2022-23 in…

Categories New Jersey Devils

Devils’ Sergei Brylin’s Number Should be Retired

Neil Villapiano | August 4, 2023

The New Jersey Devils have five different numbers that hang in the rafters of the Prudential Center. You have Scott Stevens, “Mr. Devil” Ken Daneyko, Scott Niedermayer, Patrik Elias, and…

Categories Devils History, New Jersey Devils

Kraken’s Vince Dunn Contract a Win for Both Sides

Neil Villapiano | July 24, 2023

One of the biggest moves of the offseason for the Seattle Kraken has finally happened. On July 21, the Kraken officially put pen to paper with their top defender Vince…

Categories Seattle Kraken

Kraken’s Dave Hakstol Has Been the Perfect Coach for the Job

Neil Villapiano | July 21, 2023

Going into 2022-23, there wasn’t much of a belief that Dave Hakstol could guide this Seattle Kraken team in the right direction after how things had gone down during the…

Categories Editor's Choice, Seattle Kraken

5 Bold Kraken Predictions for 2023-24 Season

Neil Villapiano | July 16, 2023

The Seattle Kraken come into just their third season in the NHL with a lot of high hopes. After qualifying for the postseason for the first time in franchise history…

Categories Season Previews, Seattle Kraken

Should the Seattle Kraken Trade for Erik Karlsson?

Neil Villapiano | July 11, 2023

As we make our way through the offseason, there still is a ton of questions to be answered. There are big-name free agents (Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrick Kane, Matt Dumba) that…

Categories Seattle Kraken
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Latest from THW

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Recent Posts

  • 3 Takeaways From the Wild’s 6-3 Win Over the Maple Leafs
  • 3 Takeaways From the Sabres’ 2-1 Loss to the Hurricanes
  • Key Takeaways From the Blackhawks 2-0 Shutout Over the Jets; Plus Jonathan Toews Returns
  • 4 Underrated Red Wings Trade Targets to Improve Team Defense
  • Maple Leafs Pivoting to Dougie Hamilton Isn’t a Bad Idea