Forward Line Predictions When New Jersey Devils Return To Play

Line 3: Zacha-Zajac-Kuokkanen

This one comes down to who the Devils want to sit. It’s actually putting the Devils in a very strange position because they have to send one of Jesper Boqvist, Janne Kuokkanen, Pavel Zacha, or Yegor Sharangovich to the taxi squad. Honestly, two probably have to go. Also, someone like Nick Merkley probably has to play for the Binghamton Devils.

For argument’s sake, we believe the Devils are going to give the first chance to Zacha and Kuokkanen with a returning Travis Zajac. That takes Sharangovich out of the lineup for the first team, but he’s not waiver eligible so he can go to the taxi squad for free. The same goes for Boqvist, who’s once again out of the lineup. This is the one place where the Devils have too many forwards.

The Devils also have to make a decision with the extras. They have been using Will Butcher and Connor Carrick as the extras with Matt Tennyson playing third-line right defense. With Vatanen returning, they have to put one of those three through waivers. If they want to keep extra forwards, another defenseman might have to go through waivers.

Zacha, Zajac, and Kuokkanen aren’t going to get anyone excited. Honestly, head coach Lindy Ruff might use this as a fourth line. They have been fine on other lines, but Zacha has been tanking most of his lines despite scoring two goals and putting up four points in nine games. This line could change after one game, but based on the waiver priorities, this is likely how it starts.