New Jersey Devils Have Been Making Questionable Lineup Decisions

Injuries have plagued the New Jersey Devils this season. MVP Taylor Hall has been out of the lineup since December 23 with a lower body injury, and there have not been any reports of his return being close. Nico Hischier missed some time. Joey Anderson broke his ankle. Marcus Johansson has trouble staying healthy. You get the point. This means that the Devils have needed reinforcements from their AHL team, the Binghamton Devils. Unfortunately, they have not been players who we would like to see.

Blake Pietila is an example of someone who has been a “call-up guy.” He has played 7 games with the big club in 2018-19. While he is a good AHL player, but he has simply been a liability in New Jersey. His 31.65 CF% and just 9 high danger chances for in 74:30 of total ice time (according to Natural Stat Trick) is not good enough for stay in the NHL.

Kevin Rooney, who is currently on the roster, hasn’t been much better. The captain of the Binghamton Devils has a CF% of 37.79 in 12 games. Along with Pietila, he fits into the category of “solid AHLer, not so much in the NHL.”

Even Kurtis Gabriel has seen NHL action, appearing in 2 games. As expected, the team has largely been pinned in their own zone when he is playing, as he has a CF% of 28.57. Physical players without a ton of speed will get exposed in the NHL, and he has in his limited stint with the team.

The reason that I bring these guys up is that it seems that there are better call-up options in the minors. In a pretty much lost season, fans don’t want to see “filler” players who won’t be in New Jersey for the long run. We want to see young prospects who have been playing well in Binghamton and who are part of the future get their shot with the Devils, and there is no shortage of these type of guys in the AHL.

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After getting off to a slow start in his pro career, 2016 first-round pick Michael McLeod has begun to find his footing in Binghamton, tallying 5 goals and 22 assists in 44 games. He was called up in late November, and coach John Hynes said “I hope he comes in here and takes someone’s job.” McLeod proceeded to play 5 minutes against Washington and get sent down. Why not give him an extended look heading down the stretch?

21-year-old Brandon Gignac is having a very strong year in the AHL, accounting for 8 goals and 18 assists in 43 games. The 3rd-round pick in 2016 missed most of last season with an ACL injury, but has looked good in his return this year, and he will likely be fighting for a roster spot next season. I would certainly not be opposed to seeing him be called up mid-season, either.

Marian Studenic has been a pleasant surprise in Binghamton this year, as well. The 20-year-old Slovakian winger has 10 goals and 14 assists in 40 games this season. His speed and skill make him another candidate for a potential call-up.

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Notably absent from this list is John Quenneville. He has been a great AHL player for three years now, but this success has not transferred into the NHL at all. In 29 games, he has mustered just 4 points, and was not particularly noticeable during his time in Jersey. While I wouldn’t like to give up on a 22-year-old former first-round pick just yet, giving one of the other three young guys an opportunity seems like the better option at this point.

2018-19 has had a few positives, largely having to do with the organization’s young talent. Nico Hischier has blossomed into one of the best young forwards in the league. Mackenzie Blackwood is looking more and more like a franchise goalie. Jesper Bratt has looked more like the last year’s first half version of himself. Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha have shown flashes. Calling up young guys from Binghamton and giving them an extended look is the best move to providing more hope for the future.

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