Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: 5 Players Poised To Turn Around Bad Seasons

By Nick Villano

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 16: Kyle Palmieri #21 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal on overtime against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 16, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 16: Kyle Palmieri #21 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with teammates after scoring the winning goal on overtime against the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL game at the Bell Centre on November 16, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Francois Lacasse/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Kyle Palmieri

Kyle Palmieri was looking to have his best season yet. He was going to either spend his entire season with a Taylor Hall looking to get paid or with a Jack Hughes who had an insane amount of skill that could compliment the shoot first Palmieri.

Last season, Palmieri had the best stretches of his career until everyone got hurt and he was the best player on the ice. He also had his own injury that put a stop to his momentum. This season, he looks as healthy as ever, but the goals just haven’t been there. It doesn’t help that the Devils power play has looked like absolute garbage for most of the season. Once the Devils finally get the power play fixed (or at least as fixed as it’s ever going to be), he will start scoring more goals.

The real reason Palmieri is on this list is he’s been the best player on the team at 5v5. He’s has the best 5v5 CF% at 51.76. He’s been on the ice for 46 high-danger chances, with only 33 against him. If you include special teams, that jumps up to 73 for.

Palmieri just needs to start putting pucks in the net. Palmieri isn’t the worst player on the roster, and already has seven goals. He’s far from the problem with this team, but he definitely could be playing better. He needs to get to 60 points this season. He’s 28 years old, and needs to be playing like it’s his prime.

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