The New Jersey Devils have plenty of prospects who could make the leap next season. One player who deserves some more chatter is one that’s already worn a Devils uniform.
There were plenty of interesting quotes from New Jersey Devils general manager Ray Shero in his end-of-the-year press conference. He talked about Patrick Maroon‘s free agency, wanting to sign Taylor Hall next season, Nico Hischier‘s development and the pressure to do it again next season. Most of what he talked about was expected. However, one player he brought up seemed out of nowhere.
#NJDevils GM Ray Shero on @TheAHL All-Star defenseman and Team MVP, Jacob MacDonald: pic.twitter.com/sWUEvaI1G6
— Binghamton Devils (@BingDevils) April 25, 2018
Shero talked about AHL defenseman Jacob MacDonald. He came to the Binghamton (then Albany) Devils in the middle of the 2016-17 season, signing a two-year, minor league deal. He was a serviceable player who would provide depth for players going between the NHL and AHL.
Out of seemingly nowhere, he became one of the best scoring defensemen in the minor leagues. He scored 20 goals from the blue line, and added 35 assists. That, from an AHL team that played well below expectations.
His 55 points were more than any other player in Binghamton. That includes legit NHL prospects John Quenneville, Nick Lappin and Nathan Bastian. In fact, he was the highest scoring defenseman in the league.
Shero says he will look into signing MacDonald to an NHL contract. That’s a long cry from a player at Cornell that scored 21 points in his four-year college career. He’s grown as a hockey player tenfold in a season and a half.
More from Pucks and Pitchforks
- Should New Jersey Devils Try Load Management With Vitek Vanecek?
- New Jersey Devils Will Prove That Last Year Wasn’t A Fluke
- New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes’ Playmaking Will Outshine His Mistakes
- New Jersey Devils: Chase Stillman’s Performance Causes Concern
- Can Devils Fans Separate Zach Parise Heartbreak From Achievements?
Is MacDonald the answer to the Devils defensive woes? Of course not. He still has some issues with keeping the puck away from his goalie. However, he clearly has an NHL shot that can transition nicely for the New Jersey Devils.
He could be another one of those surprises that Shero pulls out of his hat. He’s already 25 years old, making him older than Damon Severson, Mirco Mueller and Will Butcher. Saying that, we do know some defensemen take much longer to develop than forwards. He could bring an interesting skill set to the Devils.
Even if he brings half his point total to the NHL, he’d be a great asset for the Devils. No defenseman on the Devils scored double-digit goals. John Moore led defensemen with seven goals, and he could be gone in free agency. MacDonald could be a nice depth player that brings a different look to next year’s Devils.