As the vacation season approaches, PHR will check out what groups are grateful for because the season passes the one-quarter mark. There additionally could be just a few issues your crew would love down the street. We’ll look at what’s gone properly within the early going and what may enhance because the season rolls on for the New Jersey Devils.Â
What are the Devils grateful for?
The World Junior Championship.
Look, it’s not very fairly watching Devils video games proper now. The crew has misplaced six in a row, 9 of their final ten, and now personal the worst objective differential within the Metropolitan Division. In a season the place they have been imagined to be no less than aggressive, issues have gone downhill, quick.
So across the holidays, what higher technique to soothe that ache than watching among the Devils’ high prospects do battle on the worldwide stage. Fans acquired an up-close take a look at Alexander Holtz when he performed six NHL video games earlier this season, however he’s now again with Team Sweden at his third WJC event. Shakir Mukhamadullin is likely one of the leaders of the Russian crew and appears like he’ll be within the NHL very quickly. Perhaps probably the most thrilling is Luke Hughes, that fourth-overall choose and key constructing block who’s suiting up for the U.S.
Of all of the prospects within the Devils system, these three are arguably a very powerful. You can watch all of them battle when the occasion kicks off tomorrow.
Who are the Devils grateful for?
If there’s one participant that has been something however disappointing this season it’s Mercer, who solely turned 20 in October however is already dealing with NHL minutes with aplomb. Another a kind of first-round picks, Mercer has 16 factors in 30 video games, robust possession numbers, and is averaging greater than 16 minutes an evening. Sure, he’s been fully outclassed within the faceoff dot and nonetheless has loads of work to do to shine his total recreation, however there have been so many sensible moments that his ceiling appears to be like larger than anticipated and his absolute flooring has risen to that of an NHL middle-six participant.
It’s arduous to see why there would ever be a time shifting ahead that the Devils don’t pencil Mercer into the lineup and that’s an enormous step ahead for a company that wanted to construct out assist for Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. It appears to be like like there will probably be extra ache this season, however issues are trending in the proper course, no less than when it comes to growth.
What would the Devils be much more grateful for?
