Christmas Comes Early for New Jersey
The Devils head to their holiday break off a win over Detroit, and much more
Welcome to the THW New Jersey Devils Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our Devils writers.
In today’s edition, we talk with Curtis Lazar, look at options to spend LTIR, whether John Gibson is a fit, in-season awards, and much more.
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5 Questions With Devils Forward Curtis Lazar
December 23, 2023 by Josh Reinitz (Premium Substack Content)
At last season’s trade deadline, the Devils acquired Lazar from the Vancouver Canucks to help bolster their forward depth. The Lazar acquisition was overshadowed by the splashier trade involving Timo Meier, but he has become a vital part of the team and a fan favorite.
Lazar got off to a rough start in New Jersey, first missing time acquiring a Visa, then having to deal with leaving behind in Vancouver, a pregnant wife on bed rest, and a toddler. Then he suffered two serious knee injuries, and it wasn’t until the playoffs that he could make his mark on the team, scoring a goal in Madison Square Garden.
This season, Lazar has been the Devils’ jack of all trades. The ten-year veteran, who has spent most of his career grinding out shifts in the bottom six, joked in preseason that his goal for the year was to be included on the first power play unit. While that hasn’t happened, Lazar’s speed and physicality have landed him a spot on all four lines throughout the season. He was an invaluable player during the lengthy absence of Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes.
Devils Acquiring John Gibson Would Come with Risks
December 22, 2023 by Neil Villapiano
Despite being just a few points out of a playoff position with more than half the season still to go, the New Jersey Devils need a bunch of help between the pipes. Through 31 games, the Devils have the fourth-lowest team save percentage (SV%) in the league at .887. The belief around the league is if this team gets at least league-average net minding that they would be one of the top teams in the NHL. While there aren’t many options out there at the moment, there is one goalie whose name has come up over the past few days and has even been linked to a move to the Garden State. That goalie is the Anaheim Ducks’ John Gibson.
3 Takeaways From Devils’ 6-3 Loss to Oilers
December 22, 2023 by Daniel Amoia
The New Jersey Devils were back at it on Tuesday evening (Dec. 21) in hopes of getting some much-needed points in a jam-packed Metropolitan Division. Albeit, they would try to do so against a surging and star-studded Edmonton Oilers squad. In a very poor showing, the Devils fell by a score of 6-3.
Devils’ 2023-24 In-Season Awards: Thirty Game Mark
December 21, 2023 by Erica Rosenbaum
Heading into the season, the expectations for the young team were the highest they have been in the last 13 years. Unfortunately and beautifully, there is no predicting how a hockey season will go. Fortunately, there is still time for the Devils to find a more consistent rhythm amongst the team, along with better luck. Adversity will benefit a team that is filled with young talent and be beneficial to the experience of all of the players.
One aspect of the Devils’ season that is living up to expectations so far is the skillful and productive play of most of their star players. There is a clear ‘most valuable player’ through 30 games that will surprise no hockey fan. However, there are multiple options for the ‘most underrated player’ and the player that ‘needs improvement’ so far. With a record of 16-12-2, the team will look for their next 30 games to be more positive in the 2023-24 season.
How the Devils Can & Should Use Their Newfound LTIR
By Josh Reinitz December 21, 2023
It is not often that one comes into a pile of money, even less often when it happens the week before Christmas, but that is the situation the New Jersey Devils presently find themselves, and how they navigate this windfall will go a long way toward determining if they will still be playing when Dougie Hamilton is healthy enough to return. Losing a player the caliber of Hamilton is never ideal. Still, if there are any positives to be found, it has been the rise of Simon Nemec in his first exposure to the NHL and the ability to stash Hamilton on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) to allow them to use his cap charge to sign other players.
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