On today’s New Jersey Devils Daily, fans getting impatient waiting to re-sign Damon Severson, what Will Butcher will bring to the team’s defense this season and evaluating the team’s top prospects.
Many fans expected the New Jersey Devils to sign defenseman Damon Severson pretty easily this offseason, but that hasn’t happened. Todd Correll with Hockey Buzz thinks we shouldn’t worry, yet. He says the negotiations have been described as “healthy,” and that both sides want a long-term deal to get done. Correll says it’s a matter of when Severson signs, so hopefully that when occurs before training camp starts in a few weeks.
On Damon Severson contract negotiations
The biggest news of the week was former Denver University and Colorado Avalanche prospect Will Butcher chose to sign with the Devils. Chris Kasperowicz with Elite Sports NY looks at what Butcher brings to the team this season. He thinks Butcher could take playing time from two relatively new Devils in Mirco Mueller and Dalton Prout. If that happens, don’t expect many fans to be too upset because that means Butcher is playing well.
Will Butcher Provides Boost To Devils Defense
Chris Ryan with NJ.com looks at another young defenseman who’s trying to crack the lineup. Michael Kapla is doing things a little differently this offseason. Kapla has been busy, graduating from UMass-Lowell while also getting ready for his first NHL training camp. He says if he continues to play his game, which brought him 30 points in his final college season, he thinks he could make the NHL team on Opening Night.
What Devils defenseman Michael Kapla learned in 1st NHL offseason
The Devils announced this offseason the final obvious number to get retired; Patrik Elias. Now that he’s going to get his night, who could be next? Rob DeLuca with the Devils Army Blog has an outside-the-box idea for the next number to be retired. Sergei Brylin was a major part of the Devils best years. He was a career Devil who played on all three Stanley Cup winning teams. No, he wasn’t the best player on any of those teams. He topped out at 23 goals in the 2000-01 season. However, being he spent his career in New Jersey, it’s an interesting take.
THE CASE FOR SERGEI BRYLIN: SHOULD NO. 18 HANG FROM THE RAFTERS?
The NHL Network crew takes a look at the Devils top prospects who could make an impact this season. They love the job GM Ray Shero is doing rebuilding the team’s base. Obviously, they think Nico Hischier is the big piece the Devils will build around for years to come.
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