Early Takeaways From Two Preseason Video games

The preseason is formally underway, and thru two video games, there’s positively some issues we are able to take away from a Devils perspective.

Keep in thoughts, I feel this could all be checked out by way of the lens of “its preseason” and “the Devils have yet to face a lineup comprised of mostly NHL players”. And even when the Devils had confronted lineups comprised of NHL gamers, completely different gamers have completely different approaches to the preseason. Some veteran gamers are content material to easily get by way of the video games wholesome and get a sweat in, whereas gamers on the roster bubble is likely to be extra incentivized to indicate one thing and make an impression as they attempt to win an NHL job.

With these disclaimers out of the best way, I wished to spotlight just a few issues that I’ve seen by way of two contests.

There Might Be Something to the Palat-Brown combo within the Bottom Six

One of my greatest considerations with enjoying Ondrej Palat within the backside six previously had been the truth that once we noticed it final yr, he didn’t seem to have any chemistry with anyone. It’s not a coincidence that he appeared higher when he performed in on a line with Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes. Players who know what to do with the puck on their stick and might even drag alongside gamers to success. The Devils didn’t have any of that final yr of their backside six.

So let’s simply say that I used to be happy that the pairing with newcomer Connor Brown confirmed promise. They had a chemistry that appeared like they’ve performed with one another for years though they’ve solely been collectively a handful of practices, and Palat’s tape-to-tape go to Brown arrange what was finally the sport successful purpose towards the Islanders final evening. I don’t know if Luke Glendening will stick centering them (extra on him in a bit) however I can see the Palat-Brown combo sticking collectively for awhile.

One extra apart on Palat, who has been a infamous punching bag of the Devils fanbase since he signed right here. Obviously, he’s not value his $6M AAV cap hit and I’m not going to recommend that he’s. But final evening was one other instance of his hockey smarts, and its one other instance of how the hate on Palat has shifted too far in that path. Palat going to the entrance of the online and screening the goaltender helped result in Evgenii Dadonov tapping within the PPG that made it 6-1. It’s the kind of play that doesn’t present up on the scoresheet however helps create a purpose that he’s made a profession of. Again, stuff like that alone doesn’t make up for the very fact his cap hit is just too excessive or that that $6M may very well be higher spent elsewhere, however you possibly can see why he nonetheless has a job on this crew and why he’s higher than your run of the mill, AHL, taste of the week choice.

Luke Glendening Probably Has the Early Edge For 4C

I wrote final week in regards to the roster crunch, and I’ll dive extra into it subsequent week after I write in regards to the forwards in our sequence of season preview articles in better depth, however my huge takeaway from final week is that the Devils most likely have, at finest, one spot up for grabs amongst forwards.

Since I wrote that, Shane LaChance and Lenni Hameenaho have each handled some type of nagging harm for the reason that prospects problem, and whereas I wouldn’t say that eliminates them from the dialog of breaking camp with the large membership, it most likely does put them behind the eight ball when it comes to successful a job out of camp. So realizing that, I feel its most likely value shifting our consideration to the potential heart choices.

With the Devils enjoying Dawson Mercer at wing final evening, in addition to the PTO signings the Devils beforehand made with Kevin Rooney and Luke Glendening, that is most likely as sturdy an indicator as any that the Devils plan on Cody Glass being the 3C and going with both one of many PTO choices or Juho Lammikko because the 4C. And I feel between the three of them, Glendening has most likely made the strongest case for a contract to date.

This is a scenario the place I feel having a participant who can fill a selected function the perfect issues. Whoever wins this job goes to be tasked with enjoying on the penalty kill. Whoever wins this job might be going to be on the ice in late sport, defense-first conditions. Whoever wins this job will seemingly be tasked with getting a important faceoff win, and whereas faceoffs by and enormous don’t matter, they will matter situationally. Having one other good choice within the dot except for Nico Hischier doesn’t damage. Even although all of those gamers can theoretically do this, that is the place I feel Glendening’s fame and observe report on the NHL degree units him aside from Rooney and Lammikko.

There’s a number of preseason left so there’s nonetheless time for each Rooney and/or Lammikko to make their case. But if it have been as much as me and I needed to decide at the moment, I’d most likely lean Glendening.

I’m Not Sure Where Gritsyuk Fits In At The Moment, But I Want to See More

The one downside with the highest 9 wingers seemingly being set is I’m undecided how Arseni Gritsyuk matches into the equation.

I don’t see the Devils placing Gritsyuk with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt for now. The mixture of Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer looks as if a line they’ll seemingly use a ton this season. And if the Palat-Connor Brown connection is certainly actual, the very last thing I need to do is mess with that. Which leaves being on the fourth line with whoever is left, seemingly Paul Cotter and both Cody Glass or whoever the 4C winds up being.

Now, some would possibly frown upon Gritsyuk, along with his offensive instincts, skating capacity, and fast launch being “wasted” in a 4th line function. But I do need to harken again to a theme from final yr that I famous with this crew on how this crew didn’t have an identification within the backside six. It was a mish-mosh of components that didn’t match collectively, which is why none of it labored.

It’s too early to say that the Devils identification of their backside six this yr is “what if we just build four lines that can skate, push the pace of play, and score” nevertheless it does appear to be they’ve items up and down the lineup that would doubtlessly do this. Dadonov, who’s at present in a high six function, brings talent and hockey IQ to the desk. Brown is an efficient two-way participant who skates properly and might play in all conditions. Cotter skates laborious, performs laborious, and must be accounted for in potential breakaway alternatives. Gritsyuk skates properly and has extra offensive talent than a typical backside six winger. I don’t say this to be disrespectful of the gamers who’re now not right here, however its a greater combine than “last season in the NHL” Tomas Tatar, Nathan Bastian, Curtis Lazar, and Justin Dowling, amongst others.

As everyone knows, traces don’t stick collectively eternally. There will probably be video games the place what the Devils are operating on the market doesn’t work, they’re trailing, they usually pull out the road blender to attempt to create a spark. This is the place I feel having a man like Gritsyuk who can theoretically transfer up right into a extra featured function on a scoring line with extra proficient gamers can play. This is the place I feel having higher gamers total give Keefe extra choices with which to work.

Either method, Gritsyuk has an intriguing toolkit at his disposal and I need to see extra from him. I don’t assume its the top of the world if he begins out in a fourth line function contemplating he’s nonetheless adjusting to enjoying on North American ice, and if the Devils do endure an harm someplace within the Top Nine, he’ll be a pure candidate to maneuver up the lineup to attempt to create offense.

Should Ethan Edwards Be the seventh Defenseman?

There wasn’t a number of newsworthy stuff to come back out of the Sheldon Keefe and Tom Fitzgerald season opening press convention final week, however the one factor that I did be aware of was their reward for defenseman Ethan Edwards.

I don’t know if there’s something about Edwards’ sport that jumps out as above common and even elite. But he’s an excellent skater, performs with poise, is positionally sound, and after watching him in two preseason contests, I can see why the choice makers like him.

I don’t know if Edwards is essentially NHL-ready proper this second however I don’t know that he’s too far off both, which raises the query whether or not or not he is likely to be finest suited because the seventh defenseman for so long as Johnathan Kovacevic is on the shelf. He’s younger sufficient that he most likely ought to be enjoying commonly someplace, however that will additionally must be weighed towards working towards towards NHL-caliber gamers on a regular basis, which is one thing he wouldn’t get if he have been to start out the season in Utica. At the very least, I’d wish to see Edwards get the decision if the Devils want a defenseman in a pinch reasonably than turning to the Dennis Cholowskis or Colton Whites of the world.

Edwards performs a stable “meat and potatoes” type of sport that works towards AHL caliber lineups like what the Rangers and Islanders have dressed this previous week. Let’s see if it performs towards higher competitors.