New Jersey Devils: Perfect Lineup For 2020-21 Season

Defense Pair Two

Ryan Murray-Damon Severson

The New Jersey Devils have two pairs that would be second pairs on a top team. This second pair of Ryan Murray and Damon Severson could, however, develop into a good number-one pair as time goes on. It is hard to guess how a defenseman is going to play over a long stretch of time if they are unproven. This could very well start as the team’s second pair and end as their undisputed top-pair.

Damon Severson gets way too much heat sometimes. He has a lot of flaws when defending but he does have 136 NHL points in 430 NHL games at 26 years old. Sometimes it takes guys a long time to find the right game in their own end, but those 136 points from a young defenseman don’t grow on trees. He might never be Duncan Keith in his prime or anything like that but he could be an impactful player on this team for a while.

Having Ryan Murray there with him could really help. Murray is all about defending which would mesh well with a player like Severson. Murray was acquired by New Jersey in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has had some injury trouble lately but he is still a very good player. He was a second overall pick for a reason, but the Devils need him to actually play to get the most out of him. If he stays healthy, he should be a really great addition to the team.