New Jersey Devils: Remembering 3 Big Additions Over Offseason
The New Jersey Devils have some new players that will be a big part of the 2021 season.
The New Jersey Devils haven’t played a game since early March. The COVID-19 pandemic was tough on every NHL team but the seven that didn’t return to play in the bubble had it even tougher. The Devils were one of them so we are all just patiently waiting for that time to come again. In the process of it all, however, there have been some happenings in the news world and the Devils have been beneficiaries of some of it.
First, there is the draft aspect. New Jersey made three selections in the first round of the 2020
NHL Draft and a few more beyond that. They have improved their prospect pool a lot and are set up nicely for the future of their franchise. As for the 2021 season ahead, we can’t be 100% sure what to expect.
There are significant changes to the roster that will keep fans on their toes. This provides some hope the Devils could be decent this season. Some of the younger core players are expected to take big steps. Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Mackenzie Blackwood are all guys that we need to see really help this team take the next step over the 2021 season. Especially in the case of Hischier and Hughes, these guys have the potential to be great stars of the game.
New Jersey also made some other additions to their roster over the long offseason that should really help them in the upcoming season. These are the three players that the Devils added to their NHL roster that should make a big impact in 2021:
85. . G. New Jersey Devils. Corey Crawford. 50. player
It was sort of a surprise earlier in the offseason when the Chicago Blackhawks announced that they were not bringing back Corey Crawford. He showed in 2019-20 that he is still an elite goalie that can get it done in the regular season and playoffs of an NHL season. He split time with Robin Lehner which helped him out a lot so coming to a team with another really good starting goalie would probably be the best option for him.
Well, that is exactly the case with the New Jersey Devils. Crawford coming to the New Jersey Devils was almost as surprising as Chicago letting him go but it is reality. He is going to share the net with Mackenzie Blackwood and that might form one of the best goaltending duos in the league. Crawford coming to New Jersey is a massive upgrade to the “second goalie” position.
The pandemic is causing the season to start late which might force them to have a condensed schedule. That means having two goalies could really give any team an advantage. The Devils now have that which should really help them win some games. This is a young team that has a long way to go before they are a contender so having two strong netminders will really help.
Crawford has won the Stanley Cup twice as a starter with the Chicago Blackhawks. He also was simply part of that winning culture over there so bringing it to this young team is so nice. By the time he is done with the Devils, the hope is that Mackenzie Blackwood will have everything he needs to be a full-time starter all by himself. Seeing Crawford get his first game with New Jersey is certainly something to be excited about.
. LW. New Jersey Devils. Andreas Johnsson. 11. player. 85
The New Jersey Devils have a little bit of young depth at the center of the ice which is the most important forward position. Travis Zajac is on the older side but Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Pavel Zacha are all still really young. A lot of people don’t love Pavel Zacha because of where he was drafted but the truth of the matter is that he can be a decent bottom-six center if he just continues to develop. Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes have superstar potential.
Every good centerman should be a good winger. The Devils have a few good wings like Kyle Palmieri, Nikita Gusev, and Jesper Bratt but they needed more this offseason. They acquired Andreas Johnsson from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Joey Anderson. Some didn’t like giving up on Anderson but Johnsson is probably a better player right now. Anderson might turn into a really good bottom-six forward but Johnsson will fit right into this team’s top-six.
The only question for Johnsson is who his linemates will be. He could line up next to Hischier or he could line up with Hughes. There is potential for him to find chemistry with Pavel Zacha as well. Either way, he adds great depth to New Jersey’s forward group. He can score goals and make an impact offensively if he is healthy and put in the right position to succeed.
D. New Jersey Devils. Ryan Murray. 22. player. 85.
The New Jersey Devils might have landed a stud when they acquired Ryan Murray from the Columbus Blue Jackets. He was the second overall pick in the 2012 NHL Draft. He hasn’t necessarily lived up to being the second overall pick but he has become a very good NHL defenseman. The offense never developed into what we thought it would back then and that is why we consider him to be someone who never reached their full potential.
Even with that, he is a very good defensive defenseman. You didn’t make that Team North America in the World Cup of Hockey if you were an extremely talented young player. Murray did just that and has been awesome on the Columbus Blue Jackets blue line for a while now. At 27 years old, he is ready for a new start with a new team.
Murray’s partner is yet to be decided but it feels like he has one of two options. He is almost certain to line up with one of Damon Severson or P.K. Subban on the back end. Both of those guys are offensive-minded defenseman that has a lot of holes in their game on the defensive side. Adding a steady back-end presence like Murray could really help either of them do what they do best.
light. Related Story. New Jersey Devils are well represented at World Juniors
All three of these guys are going to be great at helping New Jersey play better. They added an NHL forward, defenseman, and goaltender so all areas are covered as far as improvement. There is a long way to go before we consider them a playoff team but they have some nice pieces that should help them be competitive this year. These three guys could really help them out with that.