"“They all have strengths. Whether it is a McLeod with great skating and moving, whether it’s a Bastian who is a more physical-type player, whether it’s Kuokkanen with more skill and a great shot, you can go to a lot of different players.” — Lindy Ruff"
This one might not be the quote most expected to stand out from new Devils head coach Lindy Ruff, but it’s the one with the most impact. As we count right now, the Devils seem to have three open spots among the forwards in the opening lineup. It wasn’t lost on us that he named three very specific names in this quote.
It’s also not the three players most would suspect. Jesper Boqvist seems like he should be close to a lock to make the roster, but this says otherwise. The same goes for Nick Merkley, who came over in the Taylor Hall trade last season. Instead, he brought up Michael McLeod, Nathan Bastian, and Janne Kuokkanen.
It’s entirely possible he was using these three players to showcase how different the young players in camp are, but he could have just said that without using specific names. Something about these three stood out to him. Maybe they fit the type of lineup that he wants the Devils to have this season. They all bring an interesting mix to the table.
This could all change on a dime. He said this before any of the Devils actually took part in a training camp session. The cream will rise to the top, but it’s interesting if Ruff has a favorite before anyone takes the ice.