With taxi squads, PTO contracts could be important for the Devils.
There are some subtle changes to how the NHL is going to work this season. Obviously, the two biggest changes come with a shortened season (56 games) and a change in divisions (the New Jersey Devils will play in the East Division, switching out Carolina Hurricanes and Columbus Blue Jackets for Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres). They will only face their divisional opponents until the playoffs.
One of the other changes includes the addition of a taxi squad. It’s basically four to six players who will spend the season away from the team so they have quick players to grab in case there’s an injury or an outbreak on the team. This will allow the Devils and the rest of the NHL to avoid canceled games as much as possible. There isn’t a lot of leeway in the schedule.
To start the season, the taxi squads could have AHL players, but eventually, their season is going to start. That’s why the Devils might look to get low-level veterans on bottom basement contracts to fill such a taxi squad.
The Devils also have three open spots among the forwards and an open spot for a 23rd player. That could be either a defenseman or a forward that would sit on most nights. Usually, teams like putting veterans in those spots since they understand the business side of hockey a little more. They are usually ready to jump in at any time.
These five players aren’t going to knock anyone’s socks off, but they were at one time really good options. Maybe they still have a little bit of magic left. The Devils turned PTOs for Lee Stempniak and PA Parenteau into draft picks at the trade deadline. They also signed former stars like Scott Gomez and Petr Sykora, who ended up having nice final runs with their former team. Who could make a really good PTO candidate for the Devils this season?