Pucks and Pitchforks
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5 More Players Who Could Make NHL Debut For New Jersey Devils

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 23: Nico Daws #50 and Dawson Mercer #18 of the New Jersey Devils celebrate a 2-1 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres at Prudential Center on October 23, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. The game was the first in the NHL for Daws. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - OCTOBER 23: Nico Daws #50 and Dawson Mercer #18 of the New Jersey Devils celebrate a 2-1 overtime victory against the Buffalo Sabres at Prudential Center on October 23, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey. The game was the first in the NHL for Daws. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
Alexander Holtz #10 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

1. Alexander Holtz

Let’s start with the obvious. Alexander Holtz has been electric for a Utica team that is undefeated through three games. He has three goals in three games, which is exactly what the Devils want to see to start the season. All three goals came in different ways, and they all seemed really important.

The Devils are still struggling to finish on goals, especially now that Jack Hughes is out of the lineup. Hughes has played five of the Devils’ 12 periods this season, but he’s still tied for the team lead in goals. That top line looks a little lost without him, and it’s not hard to see why. This might be why the Devils look to bring Alex Holtz to the NHL sooner rather than later.

The team sent him down to the AHL so he could get top-six minutes and an opportunity to excel, but if there is an open position on the top six in New Jersey, wouldn’t it make sense to put Holtz there? He showed he can score in the preseason, tying Pavel Zacha for the team lead in points in the games that didn’t count. He only needed five shots to score two goals.

Holtz makes sense on the New Jersey Devils. When Hughes comes back, the Devils can send him back down, or possibly he earned a spot on the top line. Janne Kuokkanen seems a little out of place there this season, so maybe Holtz is the natural replacement.

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