Ahead of tonight’s road match-up with the Boston Bruins, the New Jersey Devils have recalled rookie winger Nick Lappin on an emergency basis from the AHL’s Albany Devils. Lappin is expected to get the call tonight, as the 24-year-old forward has worked his way back into the lineup. Lappin has four goals and three assists in 35 games with New Jersey this season, but was sent down to the minors on January 12th and had yet to return to the lineup. While in Albany, Lappin was nearly a point-per-game player, with nine goals and eleven assists in 24 contests. Lappin is in just his second pro season since leaving Brown University, and no matter how many games he plays for the Devils down the stretch, he will not be eligible for exposure in the Expansion Draft. GM Ray Shero will have to look elsewhere on the roster for the solution to his coverage problem.
- A pair of deadline day acquisitions will make their debuts tonight. With Andy Greene out of the lineup for personal reasons, Dalton Prout will get a chance to show the Devils what he brings to the table. The 26-year-old tough guy had only played in 15 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets this season before being traded for Kyle Quincey at the deadline, but brings a physical game and hard-nosed presence to any game that he is a part of. With another year left on his contract, Prout is looking to impress his new team and carve out a role for himself in the future. In the short-term, he is likely trying to play well enough tonight to get into the Devils’ lineup tomorrow, against his former Blue Jackets team.
- On the other side of the ice, Drew Stafford will get into his first game with the Bruins since being acquired on Wednesday. It has been a tough season for Stafford with the Winnipeg Jets, as injuries have limited him to just 40 games, and he has managed to score just 13 points in that sample size. However, Boston knows all too well how dangerous Stafford can be when he’s on his game. As a member of the Buffalo Sabres, Stafford was a consistent goal-scoring threat and tended to have some of his best games against the Bruins. Coach Bruce Cassidy hopes that Stafford can get back to his productive ways skating on a line with Ryan Spooner and Frank Vatrano, who have both been on fire since the coaching change.
- With the trade deadline over with, Vegas Golden Knights GM George McPhee is out scouting with a clearer picture of who might be available to his team on June 21st when the new expansion team will be picked. Tonight, he’ll be taking in the Devils vs. Bruins in Boston, likely with an eye on defenseman. Although Boston and New Jersey are not exactly known for their blue line depth, neither team looks to have many attractive options up front to be exposed in the Expansion Draft. Instead, the Devils will have to pick four of Greene, Prout, Damon Severson, John Moore, Ben Lovejoy, and Jon Merrill to expose, while the Bruins can only protect one of Adam McQuaid, Colin Miller, and Kevan Miller to go along with Zdeno Chara and Torey Krug.
Bruins should either protect McQuaid or Colin Miller. They are proven players who aren’t afraid to get down and dirty.
I disagree. This is a chance for the Bruins to get out of their contracts and while McQuaid plays the game extremely hard and not afraid to get dirty, he has serious injury history and could be one head hit from being done.
I think its an easy decision, protect Colin Miller, leave McQuaid exposed. Miller is younger and has a lot more potential. McQuaid is a solid player but does have injury issues.
Yeah. Also McQuaid is signed for like 3 mil a year and can easily be replaced for 1 mil. Scrappy 3rd line defenseman aren’t hard to find. The injury issues are also a concern.
Side deal, take Beleskey and we’ll give you Hayes! Lol.
There is no decision they are protecting Colin Miller. The big question for Boston is will they use a conditional pick or make a side deal to prevent Vegas from taking Subban. If so McQuaid or Beleskey would be the most likely pick. I thought all along they’d protect Beleskey and then trade him after the expansion draft but I would not be surprised at this point If they protect Nash or Schaller instead. If they protect Hayes I will puke.
Is Subban worth making a deal for? I saw him earlier this year in both the NHL and AHL and he didn’t impress. Also, I’d think there are better options out there for Vegas to take in the crease
I see Fleury going to Vegas, but they make take Subban as a young backup/prospect.
Nobody wants subban he was overrated because of his brother PK who looked like a superstar but as we all know hes only a star in his own head cause he cant play defense. He has to b one of the most overrated overpaid players he cant crack th team canada line up…tell me hes a star i dont c it. Now malcom is trying to live up to the hype but has failed miserably….anyone heard from Blaine Lacher lately?
They should have traded him at the deadline. That way they don’t have to lose him for nothing or worse give up something to keep him (I wouldn’t). Dallas has nothing in their system and overpaid and under productive vets on the main. Something could have been worked out there easy enough.