Every year, we take the 12 Days of Christmas, and we make it all about the New Jersey Devils. This year’s a strange one, but we will try to be positive for the holiday season.
This season has not gone to plan, that’s for sure, however we still have a lot to like about being a New Jersey Devils fan. With that comes some things to look forward to.
So, what should Devils fans hope for on the 12 days of Christmas?
On the 12th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 12 Gusev Goals
We need Nikita Gusev to start scoring more goals. He only has five on the season, but the former KHL MVP was brought here to be a finisher on the second line. With Taylor Hall now in Arizona, Gusev’s scoring is more important than ever.
On the 11th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 11 minutes for McLeod
Michael McLeod has looked much better in the NHL this season. Unfortunately, he’s still not able to get the time to make things happen. He’s had less than 11 minutes in all four games he’s played. Now, he’s back in Binghamton, but it may be yet another paper move. We need to see more out of McLeod, and hopefully he can finally get a goal.
On the 10th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 10 points on Mac’s percentage
Mackenzie Blackwood has been much better as of late, with a .931 save percentage in December. His save percentage was pretty abysmal to start, and now he’s making up for it. His .909 save percentage has him ranked 28th in the league, tied with Craig Anderson. If he was able to get his save percentage up to .919, he’d move up to the top 15 in the league. We’d feel a lot better about him in general if that’s where he ended up.
On the 9th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 9 P.K. goals
The New Jersey Devils made a big splash this offseason when they traded for P.K. Subban, but he has not contributed like we all thought he would. Subban needs to show he’s at least somewhat worth the $9 million the Devils are paying him. If he scores nine more goals for the rest of the season, he’d end the year with 12. That would at least be an acceptable amount.
On the 8th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 8 Jack Hughes moments
Jack Hughes has had a slow start to his rookie season, but he’s still had a few moments that made us jump out of our season. The last moment was his beautiful move against the Chicago Blackhawks before the break to end his goal drought. We think eight more moments like that, where he makes an amazing play, isn’t too much to ask.
On the 7th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 7 Shorthanded Goals
The Devils scored a shorthanded goal in their final game before the break. It’s probably the most exciting play in hockey, and we need more excitement this season. Blake Coleman has been really good at getting shorthanded chances, and sometimes it feels like Pavel Zacha only provides offense when the other team is on the man advantage. This would provide excitement for a season that’s missing it.
On the 6th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 6 lost millions for Cory
The New Jersey Devils have a $6 million backup goalie in the AHL. Cory Schneider is in a bad way, and there’s no end in sight. It’s almost a guarantee the Devils buy him out of the final two years of his contract. We hope he bounces back, but it’s time to say goodbye to that terrible cap hit.
On the 5th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 5 Deadline deals
With Taylor Hall being the first piece to move, the New Jersey Devils still have a lot of pieces that could be out the door. Sami Vatanen, Andy Greene, Wayne Simmonds, John Hayden and Kevin Rooney are all on expiring contracts. There are rumors that Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri could also be discussed with other teams. At least hoping for great returns will make for a fun trade deadline.
More from Pucks and Pitchforks
- Should New Jersey Devils Try Load Management With Vitek Vanecek?
- New Jersey Devils Will Prove That Last Year Wasn’t A Fluke
- New Jersey Devils: Luke Hughes’ Playmaking Will Outshine His Mistakes
- New Jersey Devils: Chase Stillman’s Performance Causes Concern
- Can Devils Fans Separate Zach Parise Heartbreak From Achievements?
On the 4th Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 4 years for Sami
The best expiring asset the Devils have now that Hall is gone is Sami Vatanen. He’s playing extremely well this season, so he could get a nice haul from the market. However, he’s playing so well, the Devils should consider re-signing him. If they do, they could afford to trade a player like Damon Severson.
On the 3rd Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 3 game winners for Nico
With how this season is going, we need a saving grace, and Nico Hischier turning into an all-world player could be it. To do this, we’d need at least three game-winning goals from the Devils third-year center.
On the 2nd Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… 2 30-goal scorers
This one may seem like a long shot now. The last time the Devils had two 30-goal scorers in the same season, it was Kyle Palmieri and Adam Henrique in 2015-16. While this one might be a pipe dream, it’s very possible it could happen. The Devils have six or seven extremely talented players that could pull off a ten-goal month to get back on track. Add in a possible 30-goal season from Palmieri, and there ya go.
On the 1st Day of Christmas, Devils management gave to me… A Taylor Hall trade that works out
The one thing we want for Christmas this year is for the Taylor Hall trade to work. Whether it’s Nick Merkley trying to find the talent that made him a 1st-round pick, Kevin Bahl proving he was worth the hype, or a 1st-round pick this year that ends up falling into lottery territory. The Devils need a win on this in the worst way.