New Jersey Devils Prospect Roundup

It was a pretty good week for New Jersey Devils prospects, highlighted by Albany’s weekend sweep, which included a 4-3 victory over Syracuse on Friday and then shutting out the Hartford Wolfpack 4-0. Joe Blandisi had a pair of power play goals, both assisted by Matt Lorito and Mike Sislo. Ryan Kujawinski scored the game winning goal with five minutes left in regulation giving Albany the win. On Saturday Albany opened up the scoring with a shorthanded goal from Sislo, he was assisted by Blake Pietila. Reid Boucher continued his impressive play since being sent down, scoring an unassisted goal for Albany’s third of the game. Coleman put away the game with less than three minutes left on a goal assisted by Corey Tropp. Yann Danis recorded his first shutout of the year and the baby Devils are rolling.

It’s nice to see some of the AHL rookies starting to produce. They were quiet to start the year but it seems as if they are starting to become comfortable. The top scorers in Albany right now are Sislo (no surprise there), Lorito, and Blandisi. Blandisi is shooting at a ridiculous 50% rate. He has scored four goals but has eight shots on goal. In 10 games Blandisi has four goals and five assists. Those are good stats for a rookie but I would like to see him shoot the puck more. One player who goes unnoticed is Matt Lorito. In 21 games in the AHL he has five goals and 17 assists, averaging a little more than a point per game. I wouldn’t mind him getting a look in the big club if someone goes down. Boucher is off to a nice start in six games he has four goals and two assists and has a shooting percentage of 20%.

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Lets move onto the NCAA. Boston College continues their hot streak as they won all three of their games this week. On Tuesday they defeated U-Mass 7-0 with Wood registering an assist in the game. Friday the Eagles played their first game against Maine shutting them out 3-0. Wood was held off the score sheet but fellow Devils prospect had a big game. Santini scored the first goal and then registered a primary assist on Colin White’s goal. On Sunday the Eagles played Maine for the second time and defeated them again by the score of 2-0. Wood scored a power play goal, and Santini was held pointless. Miles Wood now has three goals and seven assists in nine games. Santini has a goal and two assists. Joey Dudek has one assist in eight games.

Sticking in Boston, Harvard’s Alex Kerfoot was held pointless against Yale as they tied 2-2 but picked up an assist in the Crimson’s 5-2 win against Brown. Kerfoot has a goal and four assists in four games. Going up to Merrimack College, Brett Seney picked up an assist in his game against Bentley on Wednesday. On Saturday against Canisius, Seney picked up another two assists. In eight games played he has two goals and six assists.

“Chychrun looks like a top NHL pick, Zacha’s offensive confidence shining & Josh Jacobs looking poised” – Brendon Ross

On to the OHL Mackenzie Blackwood was up to his old tricks again defeating Sudbury 4-2 saving 36 shots of 38. Against Sault Ste. Marie, Blackwood saved 34 of 35 shots and if that wasn’t enough he even picked up an assist. In 16 games played Blackwood has a save percentage of .930% and a goals against of 2.37 a game. In 10 of those 16 starts, Blackwood faced 30-plus shots. Is this guy even human? He is 11-5 on the year.

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For Sault Ste. Marie, Blake Speers registered a goal and four assists, while Colton White racked up two assists in three games. Speers now leads the Greyhounds in points with four goals and 11 assists in 14 games. White is tied for second in defenseman scoring with a goal and seven assists.

In Sarnia, Zacha picked up a goal and two assists in three games. Jacobs also found the scoresheet, scoring two assists last week. Zacha now has six goals and five assists in 12 games. He leads the Sting in points per game with a rate of .92 ppg. He’s also been gaining a lot of praise from scouts along with fellow prospect Josh Jacobs, who has a goal and eight assists in 17 games. Sticking to the OHL, Connor Chatham was held off the score sheet this week. I wouldn’t be too concerned with Zacha not producing a crazy amount of points. No one else in Sarnia is producing a point per game or higher. Also scouts have been impressed with his play all season so far.

In the WHL, John Quenneville was sidelined with an upper body injury and is listed as day to day. Ryan Rehill was also held off the score sheet and has just one goal and five assists in 15 games. Brian Baddock found the scoresheet this week, scoring against the Hitman. In 19 games Baddock has six goals and three assists. That concludes this weeks prospect roundup.

Are you impressed by Blandisi and Boucher producing for Albany? Are you concerned with Quenneville’s injury? How do you feel about Pavel Zacha’s season so far? Thanks for reading!