New Jersey Devils: Team May Not Have Room For Brian Gibbons
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils made two major moves during the NHL Trade Deadline to bolster the forward group. While the team is marketedly better, the Devils may not have room for a returning contributor.
The New Jersey Devils are about to have an issue that most teams would love to have. Head coach John Hynes will have to choose between really good forwards when deciding who he will put in his lineup on a nightly basis. A logjam is right around the corner, thanks to the return of Brian Gibbons.
Gibbons has been the surprise of the Devils lineup this season. He was the team leader in points well into November, and contributed on every aspect of the team’s game. He’s a great penalty killer, a finisher at the net and a pest on the puck.
No doubt, the Devils have missed him for the past five weeks while he recovered from a broken thumb. He’s still about a week away from being game ready, but when that comes will he have a spot?
The Devils just made two trades right before the deadline, bringing in Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner for the stretch run. The team is maxed out on forwards, and there really isn’t a weak link on any line.
The Devils forwards are mostly playing very well as of late. Stefan Noesen has been much better than expected, and scored the game-winning goal against the Penguins on Tuesday night.
Blake Coleman has been crucial in keeping the Devils penalty kill in check, helping keep the Pens top-rated power play off the board on two chances. His offensive game hasn’t been great this month, but he brings so much more to the table.
Pavel Zacha, who sat for a chunk of games earlier in the season, has been one of the Devils best players on the ice. He continually makes plays for himself and his linemates. He had a seven point February, by far his best month of the season.
The obvious scratches are Jimmy Hayes and Drew Stafford, one of which will need to be sent down on waivers once Gibbons returns. Hayes seems like the obvious choice there, even though he’s been a great locker room presence. Even with them sitting, there’s still one too many spots for forwards.
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Jesper Bratt could also take a seat since he’s been in a terrible slump. He did show versus the Penguins he could be on the cusp of breaking out in a big way. He made some great shots. Bratt should have had an assist on a Zacha goal if it weren’t for a ridiculous save from Casey DeSmith.
While it may look like Gibbons doesn’t have a spot, Hynes will find one for him. Gibbons brings too much to the table on a nightly basis to lose his spot due to injury. Coleman will likely be the odd man out, as he has a similar skill set to Gibbons, but hasn’t been lighting the lamp at the same consistency. Having Coleman and Stafford in the press box every night gives Hynes legitimate options with the lineup. If someone gets into a slump, he can slot one of them in easily.
Gibbons will play when he is healthy. However, if it takes him time to recover he will be demoted quickly. Either way, Gibbons can fill his original role; a fourth-liner with upside.