The Devils Are Sporting A New Look This Preseason…And It’s About Time
Preseason hockey provides no measuring stick for the games that count. The play on the ice is a lot more loosey-goosey than the heavily-structured battles that will mark the regular season contests beginning next week.
That being said, it’s hard to not be excited about the product the Devils have put forth this preseason. In a past column, I mentioned that we could very well be seeing a host of young players—and some veterans on PTOs--come into the exhibitions with the hunger to win the few open spots on the opening night 23-man roster.
Well, let’s just say that Devils coach Lindy Ruff can’t be having an easy time with deciding who to keep and who to cut. Even the one game on Saturday where the Devils (4-0) appeared to be punting against the Islanders, sending their JV to Bridgeport with just a handful of regulars (which shrunk in the second period when center Jack Hughes departed with a reported rib injury), New Jersey prevailed, 2-1, in overtime. By the way, thank you to former Devils goalie Cory Schneider for reenacting those bad goals he used to surrender late in that game—the Isles better hope for the good health of Semyon Varlamov and Ilya Sorokin this season.
Anyway, with just two games remaining in the preseason—a back-to-back starting Wednesday at the Rangers and concluding Thursday versus the Islanders at The Rock—here’s what I’ve noticed from the Devils to date:
1) The Devils got BIG
Former Devils general manager Ray Shero prioritized skill as he stockpiled young assets in this long rebuilding plan. Size and toughness were afterthoughts, theorizing that those traits can be purchased cheaply once the talent reached a certain level.
Tom Fitzgerald, who took over from Shero in 2020, believes that time is now. Whereas New Jersey’s defense was recently regarded as either short (i.e. Andy Greene, Sami Vatanen) or soft (Mirco Mueller, Jon Merrill), Fitzgerald has completely altered the unit’s look and, hopefully, its snarl around their own net front.
Damon Severson joked on a podcast that he used to be among the tallest of the Devils defense corps at six-foot two and now he’s in the locker room looking up at the likes of Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Graves, and Kevin Bahl.
Even up front, Fitzgerald is looking to add beef. His waiver claim of former Ranger Mason Geertsen came as a bit of a surprise, since he can’t be sent down to the AHL without going through the process again. That usually means he’s here to stay, probably as an extra forward for certain matchups that require extra muscle/protection.
The Rangers weren’t the only team in town to go big this offseason. In New Jersey’s case, however, these moves should be lauded as long overdue.
2) Dawson Mercer has to make the team
If opening night lineup decisions are truly merit based, please list 12 Devils forwards who are better than their second first-round pick (18th overall) in the 2020 NHL Draft. I’d argue that Mercer is superior to projected third-line center Michael McLeod, but I know Ruff thinks differently.
Don’t talk to me about Mercer’s age (he’ll turn 20 this month) or his projected ice time at the NHL versus the minors. Can he succeed at this level?
Again, discounting that all we have is preseason evidence, the answer still has to be a resounding “Yes!”
You read the scouting reports on Mercer and they indicate that he’s no better than an average skater, yet he’s consistently displayed these bursts that have enabled him to beat defenders into open spaces. He’s not all that big (six feet, 180 pounds) but he has a knack for winning puck battles. His hockey sense is advanced for any age.
Everyone seems to be debating whether Mercer would be better served playing 20 minutes a night, including power play and penalty kill ice time, in Utica or 12-15 minutes a night in New Jersey, with limited special teams usage. The answer is: It depends.
If Mercer projected to be just another NHL winger taking his laps without trying to do anything that might hurt the team, then obviously, send him down to develop. That’s not who Mercer is, though. He isn’t afraid to hold onto pucks to make plays when he has it and he’s a sneak who can win it back when he doesn’t have it. Utica coach Kevin Dineen told reporters that Mercer’s stick is “as good as I’ve seen in a long time.”
So, what’s left to debate?
3) Pavel Zacha just might be ready to (finally) break out
When Zacha was selected sixth overall in the 2015 Draft, Devils fans thought they’d found their next Patrik Elias, a fellow Czech idolized here for his two-way play and immense skill.
Through Zacha’s first five seasons, it hasn’t panned out that way. It wasn’t just a lack of production (12 other first-rounders from that Draft have netted more than Zacha’s 54 career goals); Zacha too often seemed to be somewhat indifferent on the ice. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a player just stand in place more than him during live action.
Zacha might have been affected by a history of concussions, Ruff suggested he wasn’t always in the best of shape, or maybe he just needed time to mature.
Whatever, late in the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season, Zacha started to get “it.” In his final 16 games, he scored at a point-per-game rate (10-6-16). This preseason, Zacha seems to be skating more fluidly and has been more aggressive, no longer hesitant to let it rip from the circles.
Like Elias, Zacha started his career at center but has been more effective on left wing. In Monday’s 3-1 victory over a barely-recognizable version of the Capitals, he was reunited on a line centered by Nico Hischier with Jesper Bratt on the opposite side. As expected, that group dominated the puck possession metrics and Zacha contributed a power play snipe.
A mere eight months ago, Zacha was on track for a career as a bottom-six forward. If he has indeed turned a corner, that’s a huge development for the Devils.