New Jersey Devils: Columbus Blue Jackets Matchup Last Chance To Impress
The New Jersey Devils are in a good spot heading into the season as they have some depth, but this is the last chance for the bubble guys to impress.
The initial reports coming from the New Jersey Devils were that Jesper Boqvist and Ty Smith were going to be absent from their final preseason game between them and the Columbus Blue Jackets in Columbus. That is not the case as they will both make the trip and perhaps play in the game. The line combos during their morning skate on Friday should be very telling about who will be in the very important final game.
It is an exciting game for sure based on who is a lock to play in the game. Taylor Hall, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, P.K. Subban, and Kyle Palmieri are all listed to be on the roster for the game and this should be the first time we see them all play together on the same sheet of ice in a preseason game. They have all had some great showings during the exhibition season but this will be as close to a dress rehearsal for the season as you can have.
This is an especially huge game for guys like Boqvist of course if he plays in the game, but it is also huge for Michael McLeod and Miles Wood. McLeod has been much better in the preseason than Wood and you can argue he deserves the final spot the most over Wood, but Wood’s contract makes it seem like it is his job for now. It will be up to the coaching staff to make that decision and hopefully, this preseason game in Columbus will help them make the right decision.
Ty Smith is one of nine defensemen still left on the team. Before the season began it was assumed he would be one of eight on the opening night roster but he hasn’t been that good. He still hasn’t been sent back to juniors but it is either there or the NHL for Smith. He could get a nine-game tryout in the NHL before they make that decision, but if he either does really well or really poor in this Columbus game, the decision could be made earlier.
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This is going to be the last preseason game for the Devils before they begin the 82-game schedule next week. It is time to show what they can do and the right guys need to play well in it along with the bubble guys forcing the coaches to make really hard decisions. The key is icing the best lineup possible come October 6th and that is what the exhibition season is for.