Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

5 New Jersey Devils Who Must Put In Extra Work This Offseason

By Nick Villano

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 2: Will Butcher #8 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 2, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 2: Will Butcher #8 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with the bench after scoring a goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 2, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Michael McLeod

This one doesn’t necessarily have to be so Mike McLeod makes the NHL team, but we need to see him work very, very hard this offseason. McLeod went between not looking like an NHL player to showing signs of greatness without putting it all together. One thing is for sure, he never proved himself as an NHL regular on a team that wasn’t decimated by injury.

McLeod played more than that dreaded nine game threshold. There are so many things that impacts, from his restricted free agency status to arbitration rights to eligibility for the Seattle expansion draft. That means he needs to work this offseason to prove he’s worthy of the 1st-round pick the Devils used on him.

His major problems were it didn’t seem like he trusted his own skills. That actually seems to be an issue for two years. McLeod has regressed considerably since he was carrying the Mississauga Steelheads to the OHL Final almost by himself.

He needs to work on the confidence in his speed and his shot. That’s only going to come with practice. More times than not, his speed could get him back into any play, but unless it’s a straight-line play, he is hesitant to use it. Very rarely this season did we see the speed we’ve heard so much about in a game. He needs to learn how to use it.

Home/Editorials