Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: 5 Players Who Can Raise Their Value Down The Stretch

By Nick Villano

Tomas Tatar #90 of the New Jersey Devils talks with teammate Ty Smith #24 during the first period against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on March 22, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Tomas Tatar #90 of the New Jersey Devils talks with teammate Ty Smith #24 during the first period against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on March 22, 2022 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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New Jersey Devils
Ty Smith #24 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Ty Smith

Ty Smith is just broken. It’s hard to figure out what happened to him. He was someone on Calder Trophy ballots last season. Now, he can’t seem to keep himself in the lineup. The Devils have put him as a healthy scratch multiple times despite not having anyone remotely useful to replace him.

Smith needs to show that he can handle the speed of the NHL. He’s made mistake after mistake after mistake since the beginning of the season. The Devils are going to lose P.K. Subban this offseason, so no matter what, Smith will get a new partner. But, he needs to prove to the Devils that he can handle a whole season on the blue line.

With Luke Hughes playing so well in college hockey, the Devils don’t need Ty Smith as much as they once did, but he can’t be this bad. He has to play a style of hockey the Devils can build around.

Is Smith going to be part of this team’s future? He has to prove it now. The Devils over the next month are going to be evaluating everyone on the roster. Smith especially needs to prove something. Can he erase six months of terrible play with one month of great play? Probablt not, but it could sure help his standing with the franchise.

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