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New Jersey Devils: Nick Lappin Making It Hard To Keep In Minors

By Nick Villano

LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 12: Look on Binghamton Devils right wing Nick Lappin (25) at warm-up before the Binghamton Devils versus the Laval Rocket game on October 12, 2018, at Bell Place in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC - OCTOBER 12: Look on Binghamton Devils right wing Nick Lappin (25) at warm-up before the Binghamton Devils versus the Laval Rocket game on October 12, 2018, at Bell Place in Laval, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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The Binghamton Devils won another game on Saturday thanks to a game-winning goal from Nick Lappin. He’s forcing the New Jersey Devils hand by contributing at this high a level.

Another game, another Nick Lappin goal for an AHL team. He’s scored in all four games for the Binghamton Devils this season. That’s pretty ridiculous, even this early in the season. Scoring in four straight games is something great players never do in their entire career. With how good he’s playing, he’s making the New Jersey Devils make some really difficult decisions.

If the Devils don’t have any injuries, how long can they allow Lappin stay red hot in the minors? The options to send down for the Devils have been playing pretty well. Jean Sebastien Dea just scored his first goal in the Devils dominant win against the Washington Capitals. John Quenneville plays on a line with a ton of chemistry with Miles Wood and Travis Zajac. It’s already going to be difficult to find a spot for Jesper Bratt when he returns from injury.

Honestly, how can the Devils not try to find space for Lappin? Well, for one the Devils offense is already firing on all cylinders. It’s early, but the Devils are first in the league in goals per game. No other team has 5.5 goals on average. Not even the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Devils are also first in goals against, showing in the first two games the Devils played about as well as possible.

Still, Lappin can’t keep scoring without a promotion. Obviously, injuries will eventually happen. When they do, later rather than soon, Lappin will be the first person who gets the call up.

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Lappin was a surprise when he was assigned to Binghamton so early in training camp. Teams are probably upset with themselves they didn’t make a claim on him when he was on waivers. Now, the Devils can move him up and down for the remainder of the month without needing to send him through waivers. Can they convince Drew Stafford to spend a short time in Binghamton to make room on the roster for Lappin?

Lappin’s scoring is getting so advanced, he’s making it near impossible for the Devils. His consistency is something that the Devils just didn’t have from players not named Taylor Hall last season. He puts himself in the right position, and takes advantage of the chances he’s given. That’s the type of secondary scoring that will make this team a true contender.

For now, it seems like the Devils will stick with what they have. The team is 2-0 and leading the league in everything, so it’s hard to argue with that. However, getting Lappin into the lineup may become a priority if he scores for a fifth straight game.

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