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2018-19 Season Primer: New Jersey Devils

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With the NHL season now just a few weeks away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Next up is a look at the New Jersey Devils.

Last Season: 44-29-9 record (77 points), fourth in the Metropolitan Division (lost in the first round of playoffs to Tampa Bay)

Remaining Cap Space: $18.16MM per CapFriendly (still need to re-sign F Miles Wood)

Key Additions: D Eric Gryba (free agent, Edmonton)

Key Subtractions: F Brian Gibbons (free agent, Anaheim), F Michael Grabner (free agent, Arizona), F Jimmy Hayes (free agent, Pittsburgh), F Patrick Maroon (free agent, St. Louis), D John Moore (free agent, Boston)

[Related: Devils Depth Chart From Roster Resource]

Player To Watch: F Nico Hischier – While winger Taylor Hall will garner most of the attention following his Hart Trophy campaign, Hischier’s progression in his sophomore year will go a long way towards making or breaking New Jersey’s fortunes this coming season.  They’re counting on some of their younger players taking steps forward and the center is certainly at the center of that plan.

The top pick in 2017 held his own down the middle and it wasn’t very long before he was a focal point of their attack.  With Kyle Palmieri missing 20 games due to injury, Hischier actually wound up finishing second on the Devils in scoring with 52 points.

Now with a year of experience under his belt, how will he fare in his sophomore campaign?  While jumping to a point-per-game average may be too much to ask after one season, New Jersey will undoubtedly be hoping that he can get close to the production of a lot of number one pivots around the league (65-70 points).  Expectations are certainly going to be high, especially since they’re coming off a playoff appearance.

Hischier will also be eligible to sign a contract extension in July and a strong showing would go a long way towards bolstering his case if the Devils decide to try to lock him up early.  He has a lot to play for, that’s for sure.

Key Storyline: For the last two years, the Devils have tried to go after a prominent free agent, only to be rebuffed.  Last summer was defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and this past offseason was winger James van Riemsdyk but both opted to join a division rival instead.  This is notable as their decision to stick with their current core wasn’t necessarily their ‘Plan A’ but rather a fall-back option.

It’s clear that there is a desire to add a core contributor to the roster.  They have more than enough salary cap room to add any player around the league without having to match money; that type of flexibility will come in handy especially early in the year.

Will they be able to land the big fish they’ve been seeking?  If so, they could really make things interesting in the division.  If not, they’re going to be right on the borderline of the postseason.

Overall Outlook: New Jersey was one of the bigger surprises last season as not many were expecting them to make it to the playoffs.  The majority of the core remains intact but they are going to be counting on internal growth to improve.  Hischier should be counted on to take on a bigger chunk of the workload but how many others will?  And will Hall pick up where he left off or take a step back?  The answers to those questions will likely determine whether or not the Devils are playing come mid-April.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Contract Talks Pick Up Between Devils And Miles Wood

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Contract talks have intensified in recent days between the Devils and restricted free agent winger Miles Wood, reports Chris Ryan of NJ Advance Media.  He adds that a new deal could be imminent.

Wood is just one of four remaining RFAs across the league and is coming off a much-improved sophomore campaign.  He posted 19 goals (fourth-most on the team) and 13 assists in 76 games despite averaging just 12:38 per night, giving the team some nice secondary scoring for just $925K.  However, his playing time was slashed in the playoffs as he logged less than ten minutes of ice time.

It wouldn’t be overly surprising if his minutes have played a significant factor in negotiations thus far.  The team is likely looking to pay Wood like a role player given his usage both towards the end of last season and in his rookie campaign while the winger will be arguing that his production is worthy of more substantial money.  Because of that, a bridge contract is the expected outcome.

New Jersey is beginning their season overseas which could actually help escalate discussions between the two sides.  Their final preseason game is being played October 1st in Switzerland before they head to Sweden.  Presumably, the team is going to want Wood on that trip which means they’ll need to get something worked out over the next few days if he’s going to have a realistic chance of suiting up in the season opener.

Trade Rumors: Faulk, Bobrovsky, Ritchie, Wood

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When TSN released their off-season Trade Bait List in early July, Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk was ranked #4, among the most likely players to be dealt. A little more than two months later, all three players ranked ahead of him – Erik Karlsson, Max Pacioretty, and former teammate Jeff Skinner – have changed teams, while Faulk remains in Raleigh. But for how much longer? Appearing on TSN Radio 1050 recently, insider Pierre LeBrun revealed that Faulk was a target of the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer and speculated that the team could still move to acquire him this season. LeBrun opines that Faulk, a right-handed shot signed to an extremely reasonable $4.83MM cap hit over two more years, would be a perfect fit for the Leafs. Toronto has long been searching for a top pair defenseman to complement lefty Morgan Rielly and Faulk fits the bill. LeBrun speculates that the Hurricanes are likely asking for a major package in exchange for Faulk, but meeting those demands may not be an impossible task for Toronto. Several Maple Leafs players and prospects could fill gaps in Carolina, such as veteran center Nazem Kadri, promising wingers Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, and young goalies Garret Sparks and Joseph Woll, as well as a full cabinet of draft picks. There have also been some inclinations that the Hurricanes are preparing to move on from Faulk as well, such as acquiring a new top pair righty in Dougie Hamilton and passing over Faulk, a career ’Cane, for their captaincy. The team is under no pressure to deal their long-time stud defenseman, but if GM Don Waddell receives a strong enough offer, he seems likely to pull the trigger.

  • Columbus Blue Jackets GM Jarmo Kekalainen has been clear that he does not want to trade either Artemi Panarin or Sergei Bobrovsky, but as both remain unsigned and approaching free agency and trade calls continue to come in for Panarin, there has been rampant speculation as to where the star winger may land. After recent comments from Bobrovsky that could be read as implying that his time in Columbus could soon be over, many have begun to predict where he may land as well. In a recent segment for TSN Radio 1200 in Ottawa, Darren Dreger stated his belief that the New York Islanders would be the front runners in a Bobrovsky trade scenario. Dreger adds that there will be more than a few suitors should the two-time Vezina winner hit the trade market or, better yet, the open market. However, Dreger feels that the Islanders and new GM Lou Lamoriello feel more pressure to add a true No. 1 goaltender in their hopes of soon returning to contender status. The Isles currently roster unpredictable Robin Lehner, on a one-year deal, and failed starter Thomas Greiss, as well as two prospects overseas in Ilya Sorokin and Jakub Skarek. Lehner and Greiss do not instill much hope and Sorokin may never make the jump to North America. The Islanders are without a solution in net in the immediate future and could target Bobrovsky at any cost to solve that problem.
  • How long will the Anaheim Ducks and New Jersey Devils wait on contract resolutions with Nick Ritchie and Miles Wood respectively? The restricted free agents continue to hold out for better contracts and miss valuable time in training camp, despite underwhelming numbers through their first three seasons to support their absence. At this time last year, Columbus Blue Jackets RFA forward Josh Anderson – a similar power forward-style player – remained unsigned and was the subject of numerous trade rumors. Yet, Anderson had just 34 points through 96 games in his first three seasons, whereas Ritchie and Wood have more experience and production through the same amount of time. Ritchie, a first round pick in 2014, has 59 points in 186 games. Wood, one of the Devils’ top scorers last season, has 49 points through 137 games. One would think that either team could drum up interest if they began actively shopping their respective RFA, but it hasn’t happened to this point. Wood is not without flaws to his game, but has exceeded expectations and played a major role for New Jersey last season and with more play time has the potential to be even better. In contract, Ritchie has his strengths, but has not lived up to his first-round billing. Between the two, it would be less of a surprise to see Anaheim part with Ritchie.

 

Minor Transactions: 09/20/18

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Even while NHL clubs trim the fat off their training camp rosters, minor league teams are adding talent for the upcoming season. We’ll keep track of the minor moves right here.

  • The San Jose Barracuda have signed Keaton Middleton to an AHL contract, meaning he’ll join his brother Jake Middleton in the organization. The younger of the two Middleton boys, Keaton was selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the fourth round of the 2016 draft but failed to sign a professional contract with them and became an unrestricted free agent this summer. The towering defenseman has served as the captain for the Saginaw Spirit for the past two seasons and can be an absolute physical force on the ice when on his game.
  • The Binghamton Devils have also added an interesting player on an AHL contract, inking Brian Ward to a one-year deal. Ward was a dominant offensive player for the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL the past two seasons, and could make the jump to the AHL this year if given a chance. A former standout at St. Lawrence University, he’s still quite a distance from ever challenging for an NHL job but should give the Devils some added depth in the minor leagues.

Nikita Popugayev's KHL Rights Dealt To Amur Khabarovsk

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  • Devils prospect Nikita Popugayev is on the move as his KHL rights were dealt from CSKA Moscow to Amur Khabarovsk, per a team release from the Tigers (link in Russian). The 19-year-old was the 98th overall pick of New Jersey back in 2017 but spent most of last year (and the first three games of this season) at the lower levels in Russia but he now is expected to get a shot at the KHL level.

Talks Quiet Between New Jersey Devils, Miles Wood

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After Sam Reinhart signed his two-year bridge deal with the Buffalo Sabres earlier today, just four restricted free agents remain unsigned now several days into the preseason. One of those players is Miles Wood, who has been generally overlooked among this group due to the star power of some of the other names sitting out. Bob McKenzie of TSN gave an update on the situation today on Twitter, noting that there has been “virtually no dialogue” of late and that the two sides are not close to a deal. Wood may not have the name recognition of a William Nylander or Shea Theodore, but is still an important player for the New Jersey Devils that they need to get under contract at some point or risk heading into the season without his contribution in the lineup.

Wood, 23, was a big part of the New Jersey breakout last season, scoring 19 goals in 76 games while being an effective checking forward. Though playing fewer than 13 minutes a night, Wood was able to create 170 shots on net and use his speed and size to convert on those opportunities on a regular basis. While the team may not want to hand out a long-term deal on the back of a career year, he certainly looked the part this season and should be looking for a substantial reward.

The lack of previous success or draft pedigree is what makes Wood’s situation different to that of Nylander or Reinhart, and could very well be the sticking point between the two sides. There is little to suggest that he’s on a path to 60-point seasons, but Wood does have leverage as the team’s fourth-leading goal scorer from a year ago. The Devils now expect to compete for the playoffs after such a successful Cinderella run in 2017-18, and Wood knows he is a big part of that. Settling for a short-term deal at this point may not be considered a win for his camp, even if it would get him playing again.

Of course, when you don’t have that long track record of success or a huge draft investment from the team, there is substantial danger to holding out through training camp. For every day Wood misses there will be another opportunity for a younger player to show that he can replace that role effectively this season, and likely at a cheaper cost. There’s only so much you can demand as a fourth-round pick with 137 games under your belt.

Training Camp Cuts: 09/18/18

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NHL regular season action is just a few weeks away, and as the preseason schedule gets started teams are reducing their training camp rosters. We’ll keep track of all the cuts right here:

Buffalo Sabres (per Gene Pereira of Rogers TV)

F Matej Pekar (to Barrie, OHL)

Edmonton Oilers (per team release)

F Mitch Callahan (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Braden Christoffer (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Luke Esposito (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Dave Gust (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Cameron Hebig (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Colin Larkin (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F John McFarland (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Evan Polei (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Ryan Van Stralen (to Bakersfield, AHL)
F Tyler Vesel (to Bakersfield, AHL)
D Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin (to Bakersfield, AHL)
D Logan Day (to Bakersfield, AHL)
D Jake Kulevich (to Bakersfield, AHL)
D Jared Wilson (to Bakersfield, AHL)
G Stuart Skinner (to Bakersfield, AHL)

Florida Panthers (per team release)

F Patrick Bajkov (to Springfield, AHL)
F Jayce Hawryluk (to Springfield, AHL)
D Michael Downing (to Springfield, AHL)
D Thomas Schemitsch (to Springfield, AHL)
F Blaine Byron (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
F Bobby Farnham (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
F Jake Horton (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
F Matt Mangene (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
F Harry Zolnierczyk (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
D Dylan MacPherson (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
D Linus Nassen (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
G Evan Cormier (released from tryout, will attend AHL camp)
F Serron Noel (to Oshawa, OHL)

Minnesota Wild (per team release)

F Connor Dewar (to Quebec, QMJHL)
F Ivan Lodnia (to Niagara, OHL)
G Dereck Baribeau (to Everett, WHL)

New Jersey Devils (per team release)

F Ryan Schmelzer (to Binghamton, AHL)
D Tariq Hammond (to Binghamton, AHL)
F Mitch Hoelscher (to Ottawa, OHL)
D Xavier Bernard (to Drummondville, QMJHL)

New York Rangers (per team release)

F Dawson Leedahl (to Hartford, AHL)
F Ty Ronning (to Hartford, AHL)
D Sean Day (to Hartford, AHL)
D Vince Pedrie (to Hartford, AHL)
G Brandon Halverson (to Hartford, AHL)
G Chris Nell (to Hartford, AHL)
F Nico Gross (to Oshawa, OHL)
G Jeremy Brodeur (released from PTO)

Philadelphia Flyers (per team release)

F Morgan Frost (to Sault Ste. Marie, OHL)
F Isaac Ratcliffe (to Guelph, OHL)

St. Louis Blues (per team release)

G Joel Hofer (to Swift Current, WHL)

Vegas Golden Knights (per team release)

D Xavier Bouchard (to Baie-Comeau, QMJHL)
F Ryan Chyzowski (to Medicine Hat, WHL)
D Connor Corcoran (to Windsor, OHL)
F Raphael Harvey-Pinard (to Rouyn-Noranda, QMJHL)
F Ben Jones (to Niagara, OHL)
F Jake Leschyshyn (to Regina, WHL)
F Alex Gallant (to Chicago, AHL)
F Ryan Wagner (to Chicago, AHL)
F Matthew Weis (to Chicago, AHL)

 

Metropolitan Notes: Hayes, Zibanejad, Ho-Sang, Carlsson, Speers

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Many people took notice of the one-year deal that center Kevin Hayes signed this offseason as neither he nor the New York Rangers were able to agree upon a long-term contract. The 26-year-old scored a career-high 25 goals last season after posting 17 goals twice previously. With unrestricted free agency in front of him next offseason, many people wondered whether the rebuilding Rangers might opt to trade the center rather than risk losing him next season.

Hayes told MSG reporter John Giannone that he spoke to management and doesn’t feel worried about a trade.

“I had a great conversation with Dru (Chris Drury) and Gorts (GM Jeff Gorton) as soon as I signed my contract. I believe there’s no inclination of me being trade bait or me thinking that I’m going to be out of here. I did not sign a one-year deal to go to free agency. I love this organization, I love the city, what the city demands, the determination and hard work. This is where I want to be for my whole entire career. Obviously a long-term deal didn’t get done but I’m hopeful that come the right time, I think it’ll get done.”

  • The New York Rangers might have to worry about another center as Mika Zibanejad left practice early Sunday, according to The Athletic’s Rick Carpiniello, after taking a hit to the head in a one-on-one drill from rookie defenseman Joey Keane. The bigger concern is Zibanejad’s history of concussions, including one last season. According to the New York Post’s Bree Cyrgalis, head coach David Quinn said Zibanejad is “fine,” and he just had the wind knocked out of him and might be eligible to play Monday night in Newark.
  • New York Islander fans were surprised when prospect Joshua Ho-Sang, who has said he’s turning the page on his past mistakes, missed training camp Saturday with what coach Barry Trotz said was a “personal day.” The Athletic’s Arthur Staple writes (subscription required) that neither Trotz or Ho-Sang elaborated on why he missed a key day of camp, Trotz’s first significant teaching day. “I don’t have any level of concern,” said Trotz.
  • The Columbus Blue Jackets have five defenseman guaranteed to be making their roster, but with the losses of Ian Cole and Jack Johnson this offseason, the team needs to find their sixth defenseman. The Athletic’s Aaron Portzline (subscription required) suggests that player might be Gabriel Carlsson, who has been highly touted since being taken in the first-round in 2015. However, back issues hampered him throughout his first full season in North America. Now after an offseason of conditioning on his back, the 6-foot-5 Carlsson may be ready to make the leap to Columbus.
  • The Athletic’s Corey Masisak reports that New Jersey Devils forward Blake Speers broke his nose yesterday when he took an elbow to the face yesterday. He is back at it again today, however, with a face shield. The 21-year-old scored 12 goals with the AHL’s Binghamton Devils and is looking to crack New Jersey’s lineup this year.

Snapshots: Byron, Lindback, Bettman

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With the departures of Max Pacioretty and Alex Galchenyuk this summer, Paul Byron has seen his stock rise in Montreal. After breaking out with a 43-point campaign in 2016-17, Byron was again a top forward for the Canadiens last season with 35 points and a second consecutive 20-goal season. While the team’s trades have brought in the likes of Max Domi and Tomas Tatar, Byron is now one of the elder statesmen in the Habs forward corps and will be looked upon to take another step forward this year. Byron underwent off-season shoulder surgery and is focused on working his way back to full strength in training camp, with the Canadiens certainly hoping that he will be fully prepared for the regular season. One way or another, Byron’s production in 2018-19 will play a major role in Montreal’s season. Some fans see the 28-year-old impending free agent going the way of Pacioretty and being shipped out of town before he can walk next off-season. Others see him as part of the team new core moving forward. The latter philosophy gained some credence today when Sportsnet’s Eric Engels spoke with Byron. Byron stated that his agent and GM Marc Bergevin have had preliminary extension talks, although he admitted that all parties are interested in how his shoulder recovery and resulting scoring ability pan out. Byron added “I want to stay, I think they want to keep me. Hopefully we’ll get something done soon.” It seems that perhaps the Habs are moving on from trading away core pieces and could look to keep a healthy Byron around beyond this season.

  • While yesterday’s signing of Anders Lindback by HC Davos of the Swiss NLA is newsworthy enough – the veteran goaltender spent last year in the AHL and has 130 NHL games to his credit – the team’s reason for signing him will also have reverberations in the NHL. Davos was a playoff team in the NLA last season behind their young tandem of Gilles Senn, 22, and Joren van Pottelberghe, 21, and with both keepers still under contract, there was some question as to why the team felt the need to bring in a third goalie of Lindback’s pedigree. Swiss news source Tages Anzeiger reports that the age and performance of those goalies is the exact reason the team decided to move forward with a new starter. Both Senn and van Pottelberghe are NHL draft picks; Senn was selected as an overage player by the New Jersey Devils in the fifth round of 2017, while van Pottelberghe was taken by the Detroit Red Wings in the fourth round when first eligible in 2015. Given their success, Davos was unable to convince either to abandon their plan of making the jump to North America next season, after their current contracts end, to begin the next stage of their careers. Rather than be left without any experienced goalies heading into next season, Davos decided to sign Lindback to a one-year deal to see if he could instead be their long-term solution. If Lindback meets expectations this year, expect an extension sometime over the course of the season.
  • Elsewhere on the international stage, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is very happy about the league’s growing relationship with China. The Boston Bruins and Calgary Flames are currently overseas in the second O.R.G. NHL China Games, after the Los Angeles Kings and Vancouver Canucks squared off last fall. Per NHL.com’s Dan Rosen, Bettman sees this as just the beginning and has big plans for China. In fact, Bettman stated at a press conference on Friday that he envisions regular season games in China in the future, similar to the games planned in Sweden and Finland this season. With the Chinese government and several large companies committed to building rinks and arenas across the country, it’s fair to say that hockey has already made an impact and will only continue to grow in popularity in the world’s most populous country. Bettman acknowledges that no formal talks have been had about regular season games yet, but more preseason games are being scheduled and the league only stands to benefit from a continued presence in China.

New Jersey Devils, RFA Miles Wood “Aren’t Talking”

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While the majority of restricted free agents this odd-season have been re-signed to new contracts, the outlook is not good for the handful of players that remain unsigned. The past week has revealed that the Toronto Maple Leafs’ William Nylander, the Anaheim Ducks’ Nick Ritchie, and the Vegas Golden Knights’ Shea Theodore are all far from a contract resolution with their respective teams. Add another to the list, as Devils beat writer Todd Cordell reports that New Jersey and RFA forward Miles Wood “aren’t talking” right now and appear far from agreeing to a new contract.

In fact, Cordell states that no progress has been made recently between the two sides and as of now no further talks are scheduled. It is a bleak outlook for both the team and player, especially since there is mutual interest in coming together on a deal. NJ.com’s Chris Ryan recently wrote that Wood was eager to get to camp and hoped for a resolution soon. However, in speaking with agent Peter Fish, Ryan echoes Cordell’s point that Fish and GM Ray Shero had not talked in some time. Even Cordell himself noted earlier this month that he expected a bridge deal between Wood and the Devils to be inked before camp, but that has not come to fruition.

If term isn’t the issue, then it is simply a disagreement on valuation that is holding up an extension. Wood, 23, set career-highs as a sophomore for the Devils last season. The big left winger out of Boston College recorded 19 goals and 32 points last year, nearly doubling up his rookie production in just 16 more games. Wood has certainly shown the potential to be a perennial 20-goal scorer and weapon on the power play. Yet, Wood has struggled to gain more responsibility under head coach John Hynes. Wood is not a particularly strong defensive forward and has mediocre possession statistics, not to mention a knack for taking detrimental penalties, indicating that he might just be a one-dimensional goal-scorer. His ice time would reflect that thought, as he saw fewer minutes last season than as a rookie at 12:28. This was the second-lowest average ice time of any regular New Jersey skater, with only Jimmy Hayes coming in behind him. As such, while the production looks good – fourth in goals, sixth in points in  2017-18 – and may continue to climb, the team may not see that translating into a larger role worth a larger salary. Therein lies that valuation issue that could keep Wood away from the Devils for a little while longer.

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