New Jersey Devils Should Take Long Look At Nathan Bastian
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils need help on the wing. The team could decide to make moves during the offseason, but they could take a chance on prospect Nathan Bastian.
This offseason, the New Jersey Devils have a lot of holes to fill on its main roster. There is the glaring hole on defense, and what they will do about backup goalie. One position the Devils have needed to upgrade for years is scoring on the wing.
The Devils may have a player that could help the team from within. Nathan Bastian is best known as the teammate of 2016 1st round pick Michael McLeod. He teamed with him with the Mississauga Steelheads in Juniors this season. He was also drafted the round after McLeod.
Bastian centers the second line for the Steelheads. He played in the preseason for the Devils last year, playing alongside some of the Devils best in Adam Henrique and Taylor Hall. He only played one game, but he netter an assist in that game. It was the smallest of sample sizes, but it showed he could one day be a powerplay contributor.
He had a good season with the Steelheads, scoring 45 points in 58 games. Bastian also scored seven goals in the playoffs.
It is highly unlikely Bastian will go back to Juniors next season. He may only be 19 years old, but he just finished his third full season in the OHL. While there, he was an assist machine, providing 40 helpers the year before he was drafted.
Bastian has great size, standing tall at 6’4 and 205 pounds. He will likely have to make a move to the wing, to get the very most out of his career.
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He will almost definitely get a shot in the preseason again this year. Bastian should be given a legit shot to make this team. He could provide a scoring option on the lower lines, similar to what Miles Wood provided this year. While they are very different players, they could produce similar results if given the same opportunity.
The Devils have to wait and see what happens in the offseason before they can look ahead to who makes the team. Even if Bastian doesn’t make the team on opening night, being a part of the AHL Devils will give him a chance to be a call up pretty quickly.
He does need some coach to take advantage of his best qualities. Playing a little more hard nosed will really help him. His skating skills won’t wow anyone, but he’s getting better every season. If a coach can hone those skills and make them an asset, then you have one of the biggest skaters on the ice dancing around defenders.
Either way, head coach John Hynes needs to understand the talent he has in the teen. If he can bring a little more youth to a team and get them reps, he could make the next decade of Devils hockey much better than the last one. Bastian’s skill and ability can help make that happen.