New Jersey Devils Enter Preseason With Both Optimism and Question Marks
The New Jersey Devils kick off the 2016-17 season with a revamped roster, but questions still remain.
Can you smell it?
No, not the pumpkin spice. Or the fart your dog just let out.
I’m talking about your beer-covered Brodeur jersey. I’m talking about your sweat-stained 2003 Stanley Cup Champions hat. I’m talking about the stench of Newark, New Jersey. Yup, it’s a new season and a new era of New Jersey Devils hockey.
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The Devils had their first on-ice activities last Friday and had their first split-squad preseason games last night, defeating the Canadiens in Montreal and the Flyers at The Rock. The team actually benefited from Team USA being eliminated from the World Cup of Hockey, getting head coach John Hynes as well as Kyle Pamieri and Cory Schneider back to New Jersey in time for the start of camp. The full roster of all players attending training camp can be viewed here.
It’s no secret that this is a big year for the franchise. The Devils haven’t made the playoffs since they reached the Stanley Cup Finals in 2012. Now in the second season under GM Ray Shero and Hynes, it’s time to take the next step towards restoring glory days.
With a revamped roster chocked full of young prospects, the Devils figure to try and make a playoff push for the first time in 4 years. There are plenty of reasons for Devils fans to be optimistic about this year too. Ray Shero added a bonafide scorer in Taylor Hall. He locked up Kyle Palmieri long-term. He also signed Ben Lovejoy and Vern Fiddler to give the Devils the veteran depth they have needed. John Hynes has a year of coaching under his belt. Besides that, the team is restocked with offensive prospects chomping at the bit to crack the NHL roster. Oh, and the Devils still have an All-star goalie in Schneider to boot.
This all looks great on paper, yet there are still many questions to be answered heading into this season with training camp underway.
Have the Devils done enough to revamp an offense that was last in scoring in the league?
Will they get the depth scoring they sorely need?
Will Taylor Hall live up to all the hype?
Can he and former teammate Adam Henrique re-spark their chemistry?
Can Mike Cammalleri stay healthy?
How will other new players fit on the team in John Hynes’ system?
Will Pavel Zacha make the roster?
Who will step up on defense and fill Adam Larsson’s shoes? Will it be Damon Severson?
Does the defense have enough experience?
Will Keith Kinkaid or Scott Wedgewood be the backup goalie?
Lastly, what’s going to happen with Patrik Elias?
It’s still much too early to expect these questions to be answered anytime soon, but it’s some food for thought as training camp marches on. We know they’ve plugged some of the holes on a team that has been a sinking ship the past few years, let’s just hope it translates on the ice.
It’s time for Devils hockey. This is just the beginning of restoring glory days in the Garden State.
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