Cruising I-95 With the New Jersey Devils
The Devils pick up three points in Florida, can a Devil win the Calder, what is the plan in goal and 5(ish) questions with Colin Miller.
Welcome to the THW New Jersey Devils Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our Devils writers.
In today’s edition, we feature articles about if a Devils rookie can win the Calder Trophy, goalie and power play fixes, 5(ish) questions with Colin Miller, a look at Devils history, and much more; please share this free substack with your hockey fan friends and family so they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
Now on to the good stuff….
Devils Sunday Brunch - Heading South
January 14, 2024 by Josh Reinitz (Premium Content)
The Devils next looked to young Nico Daws to try to shut down the Panthers, who were riding a nine-game winning streak. Daws did not disappoint and may have wrested away the number-one goalie position from Vanecek. In his four games since returning from injury, Daws has posted a .917 SV% and has now saved 1.5 goals above expected. Most impressive has been his timely saves and .884 high-danger save percentage. The coaching staff has shown confidence in Daws, deploying him against some of the top teams in the NHL, and he has rewarded their faith with results.
Speculation abounds regarding whether general manager Tom Fitzgerald will strike quickly to upgrade at goaltender. Possible fits include long-term solutions Jacob Markstrom, John Gibson, or Elvis Merzlikins, who told the media Friday that he expects to be moved. A short-term stopgap could be a player like Kaapo Kahkonen from San Jose. It is clear to anyone watching that the Devils must make a move. Vanecek’s play is simply unsustainable. With Merzlikins…
Today in Hockey History: Jan. 14
January 14, 2024, by Matthew Zator
Two grizzled 41-year-old veterans, Martin Brodeur and Jaromir Jagr, played a big role in the New Jersey Devils 4-1 win in Montreal on Jan. 14, 2014.
Connor Bedard’s Injury Leaves Calder Race Wide Open
January 13, 2024 by Alex Chauvancy
For a while, it seemed the Calder Trophy was Connor Bedard’s to lose. But the race got a little more wide open after he suffered a broken jaw in a loss to the New Jersey Devils on Jan. 5, keeping him out of game action for the next six to eight weeks. With Bedard out for the foreseeable future, that opens the door for other rookies to make their cases for the Calder Trophy.
Devils News & Notes: Power Play, Goaltending & More
January 11, 2024 by Josh REinitz
The New Jersey Devils practiced Wednesday afternoon and then embarked on a five-day, three-game road trip through Florida and Massachusetts. The trip would be a difficult test for a Devils team at full strength, let alone one that is leaving almost half of its salary cap in New Jersey. Playing without three of their top six forwards and their top defensive pair, they will have to adjust their lines both at even strength and to their power play units. This edition of Devils News, Notes, & Mailbag will explore how to best deploy the power play, look at potential short-term fixes in goal, and answer some reader questions.
5(ish) Questions with Devils Defenseman Colin Miller
January 10, 2024 by Josh Reinitz (Premium Content)
Colin Miller is coming off his best offensive game as a New Jersey Devil, having scored his first two goals on Saturday night against Vancouver. After the game when asked about breaking through on the scoresheet, Miller said, “That’s sort of how it goes, you don’t score for a while then you get a couple, it was certainly nice to see some go in.”
Now for our exclusive Q&A with Colin Miller:
THW: It’s gotta be fun for you to get back in games; for fans who haven't seen you play much other than last night, what can they expect?
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