New Jersey Devils: Three Things To Expect In 2021
The New Jersey Devils are finally back after taking a hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We finally have something to talk about as training camp is underway and real games are about to begin. Actually, there’s a lot to talk about. Corey Crawford abruptly retires after signing a two-year contract, Nico Hischier is still dealing with a lower-body injury and will miss real hockey games, and Jesper Bratt finally signed a two-year deal but will miss games as well. So really, we haven’t missed a beat and there is seemingly never a dull moment for the Devils.
With all the craziness and uncertainty, we finally have New Jersey Devils hockey back, and we should not take that for granted. Let’s sit back, and enjoy the hockey season. Here is what to expect for the 2021 New Jersey Devils.
The Devils Will Be Competitive But Ultimately Not Win A Lot of Games
If last year was any indication, less expectations are better expectations. Last offseason, the Devils stole the headlines by selecting number-one overall pick Jack Hughes, trading for former Norris Trophy winner P.K. Subban and also reigning KHL MVP Nikita Gusev. The fan base ultimately was excited and which led to misleading expectations.
This offseason the Devils did not necessarily weaponize their cap space and plethora of draft picks like many thought that they would. Many people were hoping and expecting them to trade for defensemen Vince Dunn or Mikhail Sergachev, or a forward like Kevin Labanc.
Instead, the Devils signed Corey Crawford, which would have given them an excellent goaltending tandem, sent Joey Anderson for Andreas Johnsson, traded for reliable but oft-injured defenseman Ryan Murray, signed depth defenseman Dmitry Kulilov and later signed a familiar face in Sami Vatanen to a one-year contract.
The Devils are relying on a lot of young players which I think is the right move. It is Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Jesper Boqvist and Ty Smith’s team, on top of the plethora of young talent the team has in the pipeline.
That being the case, there are going to be a lot of growing pains. Which is fine. As long the team is headed in the right direction, winning will happen sooner rather than later. The team will be fun to watch, but not without some hiccups along the way. Enjoy the ride.
Kyle Palmieri Will Be Traded
Devils fans love Kyle Palmieri. He is a winner on and off the ice. He could score 30 goals while running charitable foundations off of the ice. Palmieri is someone who grew up in New Jersey which makes him very easy to root for here.
However, if the franchise is to move forward, it is better to do it by trading him and acquiring young assets to correlate with the team’s young core. If the Devils were to sign Palmieri long term, the team would not be competitive until the latter years of the contract.
General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has hinted that trading Palmieri is an option. He will be a highly-coveted player by many teams in a few months, and if the Devils could get a nice return for him, you have to trade him. This will expedite the rebuild.
Ty Smith Is The Real Deal
Ty Smith will become the Devils’ best defenseman this season, even as a rookie. He made a strong case for making the team two training camps ago until the team decided that it was best for his development to play in the WHL.
He is a smart two way defender who could compete in all phases of the game. He is an excellent skater, solid transitionally, will excel on the penalty kill and could be a factor on the power play if given the opportunity.
Don’t be surprised by season’s end if he is playing first pairing minutes when head coach pulls the reign off of the rookie.
The future of the New Jersey Devils is extremely bright. It won’t be without growing pains, but this season will offer a glimpse of what it could be a few years down the road. In a world where patience is a virtue, sit back and enjoy the ride!