• HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • Site Index
  • NHL Salary Caps
  • Hockey 101: A Beginner’s Guide
  • Join Our Team
  • Free Newsletter
  • Store
  • Log in
The Hockey Writers
  • HOME
  • NHL Teams
    • North Division
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • East Division
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Central Division
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • Dallas Stars
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Nashville Predators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
    • West Division
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Arizona Coyotes
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • Minnesota Wild
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • NHL Prospects
  • World Juniors
  • Archives
  • Podcast Network
  • More…
    • CHL
      • Ontario Hockey League
      • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
      • Western Hockey League
    • Columns
    • Women’s Hockey
    • Other Leagues
    • NHL Entry Draft
    • Books
    • NHL History
Home
New Jersey Devils

A New Era of Devils Hockey Begins

By Dan Rice January 14th, 2021

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Tonight the New Jersey Devils are back on the ice in a meaningful game for the first time in over ten months. Since that last game, a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on March 11 at Prudential Center, we’ve all added words like zoom, bubble, sanitizer, pandemic, masks, and now taxi squad to our daily vocabulary. It’s been 310 days, but who’s counting?

The Devils didn’t add words this off-season, rather adding new players for the 2020-21 NHL season. Defenseman Ryan Murray (Columbus) and forward Andreas Johnsson (Toronto) were added to the roster via trade. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood and defenseman Dmitry Kulikov were signed as free agents, and they even signed old friend Sami Vatanen after trading the defenseman to Carolina at the trade deadline.

New Jersey Devils Sami Vatanen
The New Jersey Devils brought back Sami Vatanen for the 2020-21 season. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

They may not be the favorites in their division, they may not be expected to make it to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the Devils will be playing meaningful hockey again and that’s something that should be celebrated.

Enjoy the Ride

If there was ever a year to let the homegrown drafted, younger players get some serious minutes, this would be the one. Shortened schedule (56 games), only divisional games, and an organization looking to see exactly what they have in their prospect pool.

Yegor Sharangovich Binghamton Devils
Yegor Sharangovich has earned his spot in New Jersey this season. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Yes, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier will get the bulk of the most important minutes; Hischier will once he recovers from his ankle injury. But this is the year to really see what they have in Pavel Zacha (2015, Rd. 1/6th), Michael McLeod (2016, Rd. 1/12th), Ty Smith (2018, Rd.1/17th), Jesper Boqvist (2017, Rd. 2/36th), Nathan Bastian (2016, Rd. 2/41st), Mikhail Maltsev (2016, Rd. 4/102nd), and Yegor Sharangovich (2018, Rd. 5/141st).

Related: Q & A with Devils Prospect Ty Smith

Also, they need to see what they have in top prospects acquired via trade Nick Merkley (Arizona), Janne Kuokkanen (Carolina), and Nolan Foote (Tampa Bay).

This is the year to see if they are NHL-caliber players, to see if they can survive the rigors of playing eight games against talented, top teams like the Flyers, Capitals, Penguins, and Bruins over and over and over again.

New Jersey Devils Nikita Gusev Boston Bruins Trent Frederic
The New Jersey Devils and Boston Bruins face-off on opening night in the first of eight matchups this season. (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

But don’t give up on them after five games, or ten games, or even 23 games. Let the season play out. Enjoy the ride. For the last ten months, you’ve missed your favorite team on the ice and likely took it for granted until the entire sports world shut down due to the pandemic.

Defense Could Be a Mess

To put it frankly, the Devils’ defense was bad last season. It started right on opening night and continued all season. That group needs to be better and they need someone to step up and be the main guy. Could it be PK Subban? Unlikely, as he has clearly lost a step and is a shell of who he was when he won the Norris Trophy. The addition of Murray was a savvy move on the cheap (for a 2021 5th round pick), but he’s not going to be superman on the blueline.

Smith might get there eventually, but unlikely it happens this season. Butcher and Carrick? (Shakes head vigorously).

Damon Severson, Jacob Markstrom
New Jersey Devils’ Damon Severson scored the winning goal against the Vancouver Canucks. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck)

How about Damon Severson? He is entering his seventh full season in New Jersey, and won’t turn 27-years-old until August/after this season is completed. This could be the year he has an All-Star caliber season (however you define that). He’s been durable, we’ve all watched him grow up the past six seasons, and maybe new head coach Lindy Ruff can help him unlock and reach his true potential.

Do You Respect Wood?

“I respect wood. I revere wood. I’m considerate of wood,” – Larry David.

With the re-addition of Wedgewood, the sudden retirement of Corey Crawford, and the emergence of Mackenzie Blackwood over the past two seasons, it appears as if we will be seeing a lot of ‘wood’ in the Devils’ crease. As we mentioned earlier, if there was ever a season to let the kids play…this would be it. Blackwood hasn’t even played in 100 career NHL games yet (he’s at 70 before opening night).

Mackenzie Blackwood, Evan Cormier
Mackenzie Blackwood and Evan Cormier before the scrimmage at the New Jersey Devils 2017 Development Camp. (Photo Credit: New Jersey Devils/Patrick Dodson)

He should hit that 100-game milestone sometime this season barring injuries. Surely the rotation of goalies will be dictated by schedule and success at most points, but if the front office and coaching staff really wants to see if they have a bonafide no. 1 netminder for the foreseeable future – they need to play Miles Wood in goal! Kidding, of course.

Let Blackwood carry this team in this unusual season that will have limited travel. See what he can do without the safety net of Cory Schneider or Crawford behind him to take over if he falters.

Expectations

Don’t have any; with no expectations, you can’t be disappointed. Enjoy it. Don’t take things for granted. There will likely be games postponed. Players will be held out due to an abundance of caution. If we’ve learned anything since March it’s that things can change quickly. 

The Beard: Fear it. #NewCoverPic pic.twitter.com/YTFNDsBVuu

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 1, 2021

Devils hockey is back. You missed the goals, the saves, the agony of defeat, the exhilaration of an overtime goal. You missed Kyle Palmieri’s beard and Hischier’s boyish charm. You missed Blackwood doing the splits and making a glove save, and Wood skating a million miles an hour and crashing into the boards. You’ve missed Travis Zajac (nine games from 1,000) being the good soldier in the Devils Army (entering his 15th season as a member), and shouting ‘Goooooooooose’ when Nikita Gusev clowns an opponent and lives up to all the hype.

Enjoy it all, look out for one another, and stay safe out there so we can all be together again at an arena near you sometime soon.

  • Tags
  • MacKenzie Blackwood
  • Travis Zajac
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp

Get theScore App Now!
Recent Posts
Jan 21st 10:15 AM
Anaheim Ducks

3 Takeaways From the Ducks Series Against the Wild

Jan 21st 10:05 AM
Column

Prospects News & Rumors: Safonov, Coronato & Sebrango

Jan 21st 9:55 AM
San Jose Sharks

5 Sharks’ Takeaways From Blues Series: Faceoffs, Penalty Kills & More

Jan 21st 9:45 AM
Commentary

2020-21 NHL Season Will Require More Depth Than Usual

Jan 21st 9:35 AM
New Jersey Devils

Devils Get Goaltending Depth With Aaron Dell Waiver Claim

Jan 21st 9:15 AM
Anaheim Ducks

Ducks Trying to Avoid Making Same Mistake by Starting Zegras in AHL

Jan 21st 9:05 AM
Boston Bruins

Bruins Fans Should Not Overreact to Slow Start

Jan 21st 8:55 AM
Montreal Canadiens

Canadiens’ Jake Evans Has Been a Pleasant Surprise on the Penalty Kill

Jan 21st 8:45 AM
Toronto Maple Leafs

Highly Anticipated Maple Leafs & Oilers Game Ends Up Underwhelming

Jan 21st 8:35 AM
Fantasy

5 Fantasy Hockey Free Agent Targets

Editor’s Picks
NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

NHL TV Blackouts & Why They Happen?

Masthead

Newsletters

RSS Feeds

Privacy Statement

Contact Us

About THW…

Founded in 2009, The Hockey Writers is a premier destination for news and information on everything hockey. Updated daily with news and features from over 130 writers worldwide. Over 2 million monthly readers now come to THW for their hockey fix.

© The Hockey Writers 2020. All rights reserved.
logo
  • HOME
  • Hockey Headlines
  • NHL Rumors
  • North Division
    • Calgary Flames
    • Edmonton Oilers
    • Montreal Canadiens
    • Ottawa Senators
    • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Vancouver Canucks
    • Winnipeg Jets
  • East Division
    • Boston Bruins
    • Buffalo Sabres
    • New Jersey Devils
    • New York Islanders
    • New York Rangers
    • Philadelphia Flyers
    • Pittsburgh Penguins
    • Washington Capitals
  • Central Division
    • Carolina Hurricanes
    • Chicago Blackhawks
    • Columbus Blue Jackets
    • Dallas Stars
    • Detroit Red Wings
    • Florida Panthers
    • Nashville Predators
    • Tampa Bay Lightning
  • West Division
    • Anaheim Ducks
    • Arizona Coyotes
    • Colorado Avalanche
    • Los Angeles Kings
    • Minnesota Wild
    • San Jose Sharks
    • Seattle Kraken
    • St Louis Blues
    • Vegas Golden Knights
  • World Juniors
  • CHL
    • Ontario Hockey League
    • Quebec Major Junior Hockey League
    • Western Hockey League
  • THW Podcast Network
  • Store
  • FREE Newsletter
  • Search THW
  • More…
    • Join Our Team
    • The THW Archives
    • Prospects
    • The Goalie Page
    • NHL Salary Cap Information