Can the New Jersey Devils succeed in a shortened 2020-21 season?
It sounds like we may have a day to circle on our calendar as fans of the National Hockey League. There are reports floating around that the league intends to start on January 13th with a ten-day training camp ahead of time. Right when the holidays are over, it sounds like we finally will have our favorite sport back. If this report comes true, how will the New Jersey Devils fare in the short season?
It is fair to be cautiously optimistic about this team going in. They haven’t been good in a long time but there are some additions that should really help. They have added Ryan Murray, Corey Crawford, and Andreas Johnsson during the offseason which could give them a slight boost. They are also hoping that there is even more development from their young core.
Of course, everything with the modern-day New Jersey Devils starts and ends with Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. They were both number one overall picks and play very different games. Hischier is the centerman who is a two-way guy where Hughes is the centerman who makes plays in the offensive zone as good as any young prospect. Having a player like each of them reach their full potential would really help the future of this team.
Those aren’t the only awesome young players that we will see this season either. Kids like Jesper Bratt, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Jesper Boqvist are all guys who have been playing pro for a year or more and would like to really help the team win. There are also some prospects that the Devils are hoping can make an impact as early as this year. For example, don’t be surprised if Ty Smith is playing some meaningful minutes this season.
They are a young team with small expectations. That is a recipe for success in a short season. Of course, the realignment that is likely won’t help because you are adding some great teams from the Atlantic to their division but that is an issue for a different day. The Devils just have to play who is in front of them and continue developing. They may or may not win a lot of games but it will be good for them to get back at it.
Nobody is expecting New Jersey to win the Stanley Cup in 2021. They can, however, see the most important players develop tremendously. That is the biggest key to this upcoming season that is sure to see its fair share of hurdles. In addition to any hockey-related things, there is also the coronavirus to deal with which can complicate things. When everyone is healthy, this is a big year for the team’s overall growth. A successful season will be the New Jersey Devils playing well, despite their record, and lots of development for the right players.