Which New Jersey Devils Players Are Hurt By Shorter Training Camp?

Shorter training camps will hurt New Jersey Devils prospects.

On the latest 31 Thoughts Podcast with Jeff Marek and Elliotte Friedman, the latest on the NHL’s return could include a shortened training camp. That means the New Jersey Devils would have less time to assess the starting lineup.

This probably impacts the Devils as much as any team in the league. The Devils have multiple prospects who are right on the cusp of being NHL ready. Now, they will have less time to actually evaluate where everyone is.

Friedman talks about cutting preseason games to two or maybe even one. The Devils were hoping to evaluate just about everyone on the roster going into training camp. Not only are there a lot of young players who need to fill holes on the roster, but this is the first training camp under head coach Lindy Ruff.

Ruff is an old school coach who wants to see everyone playing on the ice before he pencils them into the lineup. After last season’s debacle where the lines changed daily, Ruff’s main job will be to build chemistry amongst the forwards. That will be hard to do without actual time on the ice together before real games start.

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This really impacts particular players who are going to fight for positioning. Friedman talked about teams only inviting 35 players to training camp. Last season, the Devils invited 57 players to camp. There are some positions that will be easier to cut down than others. They don’t need to invite six goalies to camp this year. However, 35 players aren’t even the full rosters of the New Jersey Devils and Binghamton Devils.

The Devils likely won’t even waste their time with a PTO this season. They have to evaluate players like Janne Kuokkanen and Michael McLeod. They don’t have room to add veterans when there’s so little ice time to go around.

Players looking to bounce back from last season also have less time to build confidence in the new system. The one that stands out here is Ty Smith. He had an awful training camp last season and likely wants to make up for it with a strong camp this season.

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There are 20 players who are basically locks to make this roster. That leaves around 15 players who can fight for a spot. That sounds like a lot, but in most years that number is closer to 40. That takes out important evaluations for young players. It is clear players from overseas like Alexander Holtz and Shakir Mukhamadullin aren’t getting an invite. Young players in juniors like Graeme Clarke and Dawson Mercer are staying with their teams since it’s very unlikely they will make the team. Those spots need to go to players like Nathan Bastian, Reilly Walsh, and Mikhail Maltsev who could have an outside chance to make the roster. There’s always a chance that there is a Jesper Bratt within the Devils’ ranks, but it’s a longshot this season with a shorter training camp.

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