New Jersey Devils: Drew Stafford Point Prediction For 2018-19 Season
By Nick Villano
Over the next few weeks, Pucks and Pitchforks will release their points predictions for every starting player on the New Jersey Devils main roster. Today, we predict what Drew Stafford will do in his second season in New Jersey.
The New Jersey Devils made many fans groan when they announced their PTO for this season would be Drew Stafford. He was returning after a lackluster first season with the franchise, but one that saw the Devils return to the postseason for the first time in half a decade.
Sure, Stafford was not the reason for the Devils postseason return, but he definitely didn’t hurt. All signs pointed to him being a great locker room presence, and a wonderful role model to the many young forwards in this group.
He played 59 games last season, mostly because he was one of the first players to get named as a healthy scratch. Hynes gave him a long leash in November and December, but once he started sitting he actually produced more. He scored in his first game back when he was forced to sit in December.
Overall, Stafford scored eight goals and seven assists. It’s nothing to go home about, obviously, but it was fine from what you get in this type of player.
Stafford isn’t a guarantee to make the Devils, but the fact that he’s made it this far shows he will likely get a contract. He didn’t do anything crazy in training camp, but he did enough to prove he won’t be a total hinderance. That won’t make any fans excited, but this team needs that type of player.
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?
Stafford will likely be the extra forward, a position the Devils don’t want to put a rookie or prospect in. Stafford is plenty seasoned, while any other player the Devils would use as their extra forward would see their growth stopped in the position.
So, with that said, what should we expect from Stafford this season?
Goals: 5
Assists: 12
Points: 17
I think when Stafford is in the lineup, his main job will be to set up the young players and to get in a good position. He will look to make life easy for younger players like Miles Wood and Jesper Bratt. He will build the confidence of those players, and then go back to the owner’s box.