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Here we go! Season opener vs. Bruins

January 14, 2021, 9:02 AM ET [109 Comments]
Roger Mussa
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Hockey is back!

And last night was a good start to the shortened season.

The Devils open their season against the tough Bruins at home. A good test to see where this group is at the moment.

We know what the Devils have this season, a young collection of players looking to develop in this shortened NHL season. Yes it will be a long season but also a season I am hoping to get many questions answered;

Will the Center building blocks continue to develop?
Nico's time to step up and continue his growth is now (when he returns from his injury) and Hughes has looked good with a bit more weight and a season under his belt. Remember these are still two young players but building blocks nonetheless. If they continue to grow, it is one less area the Devils need to address.

Will the vets be wearing a different jersey come the end of the season?
The players over 26 years of age; Palmieri, Subban, Zajac, Gusev, Kulikov, Murray, Vatanen and Wedgewood. Of those Palmieri and Subban will command interest. Kulikov, Vatanen are simply plugs and will certainly be trade deadline casualties (thank you Vatanen for landing Kuokkanen last year) and Zajac could help a contender as a depth center and face-off man.
Gusev is safe to say is in the teams future plans for sure. Are Palmieri and Subban? I sure hope so as the Devils need old veteran leadership on and off the ice.

Speaking of PK Subban, will he bounce back?
Last year PK with a lot of fanfare (this is what you get with PK) but he underwhelmed on the ice. Often out of place, making baad mistakes, timing off when joining the rush and countless times getting caught, passing off, etc.
He is definitely a show man and his instagram account shows it. There is not doubt he is a team player and seems to have taken the off season seriously. Now single, a role model and vet in the locker room - will he play to get on the next team or will he go all in and lead a promising core for the next two years?

Is Ruff and his system the right for for today and the future?
New coaching staff along with many new faces. The Devils didn't hire Ruff for just one season hoping he could establish a culture that could lead this group for the next 2-3 years.
So far so good as Ruff has looked in charge and in control during camp. Morale looks good and reserved as tonight we will see it all come together.

Is Blackwood the man in net?
This season should answer that question. Wedgewood is nothing more than a stop gap backup and Blackwood should see the majority of the stats as he is the #1 goalie but can he take it and run with it? This is the year he has no one behind him to challenge (well, he did till Crawford retired even before putting pressure on Blackwood).

The youth, who is for real?
With the best prospect pipeline we have seen in quite some time, who steps up?
Foote, Sharangovich, Kuokkanen, Smith, etc... Who makes a mark?, who will make it hard to ignore? (As Sharangovich did), Who will be a top 6 player a year from now?

Transactions this season, we will see more moves?
In addition to what happens to the vets, Hischier, Bratt, Vatanen, maybe Comrie if the Devils plan to replace Wedgewood with him will need to fit. Young players and taxi squad players will move. Are trades in the cards? I do think so but too early to tell as teams want a week or two under their belts before making longer term decisions. The Devils have attractive assets and the possibility of injury and COVID will make team's rosters and player availability super uncertain. The Devils will take the opportunity to continue to build their core for the near future.

What happens to Taxi Squad?
As of now, the Taxi squad looks like this:
Maltsev, Foote, Merkley, Senn. There will be fluidity and there will be changes.

So we will see a new team, a new look and new product on the ice. I look forward to seeing this team develop throughout the season.

It starts tonight!

Roster
Sharangovich – Hughes – Palmieri
Johnsson – Zacha – Gusev
Wood – Zajac – Boqvist
Kuokkanen – McLeod – Bastian

Murray-Subban
Kulikov-Severson
Smith-Tennyson

Blackwood-Wedgewood

What questions are you looking to answer this season?

Let's get this party started!

Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate
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