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New Jersey Devils: Cory Schneider Looks Ahead Of Schedule

By Nick Villano

TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) makes a glove save while Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) and Tampa Bay Lightning center J.T. Miller (10) look for a rebound during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 21, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - APRIL 21: New Jersey Devils goalie Cory Schneider (35) makes a glove save while Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (91) and Tampa Bay Lightning center J.T. Miller (10) look for a rebound during the second period of an NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Playoffs between the New Jersey Devils and the Tampa Bay Lightning on April 21, 2018, at Amalie Arena in Tampa, FL. (Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils had their first real practice of training camp on Saturday, and surprisingly Cory Schneider was out there. This is a great sign for his recovery, and he could even start the season healthy.

Cory Schneider was not himself for two straight seasons, even if he had moments of greatness. He was the best goalie on the ice during the playoff series against the Tampa Bay Lightning, and Andrei Vasilevskiy was on the other side of the ice. In fact, at the end of the playoffs Schneider had the best save percentage of any goalie in the entire league. If the New Jersey Devils can get him back to normal, it would be huge.

That’s why Schneider finally went and got his injury fixed this offseason. He had a torn cartilage in his hip, that clearly bothered him in the second half of the season. After playing every game of a Devils six-game homestand, Schneider just didn’t look the same.

It was a high point of the Devils season, but Hynes decision not to play Keith Kinkaid at all may have hurt the Devils in the long run.

Schneider was terrible immediately after that. He literally didn’t win another game until the playoffs. That’s true. Look it up if you don’t believe those stats. He lost ten straight contests before finally winning the Devils only game in the playoffs.

Now that Schneider had his hip fixed, he should be better. However, first he has to fully recover. On Saturday, we had the first sign he could be ready before any of us expected.

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Yes, it’s a small step, but one that many of us are surprised is happening on day one. Most of us expected Schneider to miss not only all of training camp, but also the first month of the season. Instead, he’s already back on the ice on September 15th.

The coaching staff already ruled him out for the Devils first preseason game against the New York Rangers on Monday. Who knows if the Devils plan on playing him for any game this preseason. The Devils may want to get long looks at Kinkaid and Eddie Lack. After ten years in the NHL, Schneider doesn’t need the preseason like other goalies do. Still, we’d like to see him play one practice game before seeing him when they count.

The fact that Schneider is already on the ice proves it’s possible he could be in net when the Devils play in Gothenburg on October 6th, He has about three weeks to finish his recovery. If he’s able to be fully recovered from his hip injury, then great. If not, let him wait until he’s 100 percent before he returns.

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