New Jersey Devils Daily: Nico Hischier’s Expectations, AHL In Olympics, More
By Nick Villano
On today’s New Jersey Devils Daily, the team’s expectations this season for Nico Hischier, why Jaromir Jagr doesn’t fit the team’s plan and AHL players are eligible to play in the Olympics.
Mike Morreale with NHL.com talks about the expectations for number one overall pick Nico Hischier. The Swiss superstar will need to be a playmaker from day one for the New Jersey Devils. The Devils and coach John Hynes expect him to play center from the jump, and don’t expect him to get eased into the league. Another interesting part of the article is he chose John Quenneville, Blake Speers and Stephan Noesen to make the team over Michael McLeod. It’s definitely possible, but I see McLeod fighting his way on the Opening Night roster.
Devils hope top draft pick Hischier can fill role as playmaker
Pucks and Pitchforks looks at the pros and cons of signing 45-year-old Jaromir Jagr, and figures its better to let him sign elsewhere. He’s still a very good forward, especially for his age, but he just doesn’t fit what the Devils want to do right now. He can handle the puck with the best forwards in the world, but his speed will hurt the Devils in the long run.
New Jersey Devils Should Not Pursue Jaromir Jagr
Todd Correll with Hockey Buzz looks at some of the underlying numbers why Travis Zajac should stay on his current line with Taylor Hall. Some people would like to see Hall play with a more offensive minded center like Adam Henrique or Taylor Hall, but Correll looks at the advanced stats and shows that would be a bad move. In fact, the pair was so good they had a better GF% than Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
On Zajac, Henrique, and centering Hall
Players who play in the AHL can actually play in the Olympics next season. Obviously, this is hockey-wide news, but it could eventually affect the Devils. The rules are confusing. Players on two-way NHL contracts aren’t eligible to play. Canada and the United States will request players from teams, but it seems unclear if they can be denied. Not sure exactly who in Binghamton is eligible to play, or if they’d even be good enough, but it seems like the US and Canada will need every professional they can get their hands on.
AHL allowing players on minor league deals to go to Olympics
Venues Today breaks some news that will make people who live near the Prudential Center very happy. The home of the Devils is about to get an increase in shows in the offseason after an agreement with Madison Square Garden for marketing and booking. It’s no doubt that the biggest acts will look at MSG when it looks at the New York area, but now the Prudential Center could use that asset to get the biggest acts in the world to play in Newark. While most Devils fans hate partnering with the New York Rangers home, this will be a win-win for New Jersey.