New Jersey Devils: First Game Without Taylor Hall In The Organization

The New Jersey Devils haven’t played a hockey game without Taylor Hall in the organization since April 2016 and it will be an interesting one.

The New Jersey Devils have played a few games in a row on the road but they are finally back in Newark for a home game. They have the Anaheim Ducks at Prudential Center tonight where they will play their first game without Taylor Hall in the organization since 2016. Hall was traded by the Devils to the Arizona Coyotes on Monday for three prospects and two picks. The Devils will look to officially move on from this whole thing in the game vs Anaheim.

The census around the team and the fanbase are that this team is in the hands of the kids now. Of course, there are still some veterans around like Kyle Palmieri, Travis Zajac, and P.K. Subban but the future of this team depends on some youngsters. Specifically, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Those two are now the faces of the franchise as they continue to develop into great players.

The Anaheim Ducks were the team Taylor Hall scored his first two goals with the New Jersey Devils against. It is fitting that they are the first opponent the Devils get without Hall but that might be bad news for them. They played without him due to a healthy scratch against the Colorado Avalanche and Arizona Coyotes over the weekend so they will look to keep that momentum going.

Losing Hall makes the Devils a worse team talent-wise but it might make them a better team if they come together because of it. Led by Hischier and Hughes, it is up to some new faces to lead the way now. The Ducks aren’t as good as they used to be but they still have some very talented individuals that will make life difficult on the Devils.

One of those players for Anaheim is goaltender John Gibson. He is one of the very best goalies in the world. Luckily for the Devils, they won’t likely have to face him. The Ducks were in Philly last night to take on the Philadelphia Flyers where Gibson was in net for them. The Devils are going to see Ryan Miller on the second half of a back to back for Anaheim. Miller is still a rock-solid goalie so the Devils are going to need to create good chances and get traffic in front of him.

This is a huge game for the Devils in many ways. They are likely not going to the playoffs barring some miracle, but they need to start worrying about the future and that starts in this game. It would be great to see them play well led by the right players. This team could have a bright future if they play their cards right but it is entirely up to them to make it happen.