New Jersey Devils Had An Unusually Busy Month of August

August is considered a slow month in the hockey world. Usually around this time of year, general managers go on vacation and the usual news breakers do the same. Teams don’t usually break the news or make big moves. Most of the time, coaches and GMs prepare for training camp and enjoy the last few weeks of peace.

However, there are rare times in August when teams do much more to improve themselves. The New Jersey Devils, this offseason, had some big news and stories throughout the month. Most of it was significant changes to the franchise and some information about one prospect. Here’s a recap of what the Devils did for the entire month of August 2022.

August 10: Hiring Bill Spaulding As Our New Play-by-Play Announcer

A few months ago, former Devils play-by-play announcer Steve Cangialosi announced he would leave to focus on soccer and the Red Bulls on MSG Network. The search may have taken a few months, but on August 10, NJ.com reporter Ryan Novozinsky announced the new PBP announcer would be Bill Spaulding.

When he worked on NESN, Spaulding had announced many hockey games, especially for the Boston College men’s hockey team. Spaulding’s voice works as a hockey announcer, especially with his experience. Like Devils fans having to get used to Cangy replacing Doc Emrick, I feel that he will do a stellar job announcing games, and fans will get used to him.

Middle of August: Luke Hughes Showcased Himself at the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships

This NHL offseason in August also featured the 2022 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships. While many NHL teams had the talent to represent, there was one Devils who showed how good he could be as a future Devils defenseman.

That was the 2021 4th-overall pick Luke Hughes. Hughes was selected to be on Team USA. Hey was considered one of the best players on that team, if not the best defenseman of the tournament, according to Steve Kournianos.

The first game showcased the idea with an assist and a goal in their win against Germany on August 10th. Luke Hughes on the ice looked great, especially with his skating elusive. However, his last game turned out to be a bittersweet ending for not only him but for his team. Hughes got injured in a knee-to-knee collision in their game against the Czechs on August 18th.

Hughes got taken out of the game but eventually returned. When Hughes did return to the ice, he clearly had something wrong. Unfortunately, Hughes’s most significant heartbreaking moment happened toward the end of the game. With the USA needing a goal down 3-2, with under 1:36 to go, Hughes made a lousy pass without looking, which allowed Czechia to put in the empty net goal to seal the upset victory. Many people called out Hughes’s empty netter and ridiculed him for playing that. It makes me sad when people don’t recognize how good Luke Hughes was for the whole tournament but instead look at his one mistake. This moment could help motivate him to play better in his sophomore year at Michigan. Hughes is still a good player, and I cannot wait to see what he does next.

August 18: Sergei Brylin Hired as Assistant Coach to Lindy Ruff

Last month, the Devils hired Andrew Brunette to be part of Lindy’s Ruff coaching staff as an assistant coach. Many people were happy with the hire, but the Devils made another surprising coaching move. Looking to Utica, they hired former Devils legend Sergei Brylin on August 18th as the other assistant coach to Lindy Ruff.

The idea of hiring Brylin makes a lot of sense because of Brylin’s tenure in the Devils organization. Brylin has been with the Devils for the past nine years, first taking on the role of an assistant coach when the Devils’ minor league team was in Albany. Brylin then moved up to do that same role in Binghamton, as well as in Utica last season.

Now Brylin is here to help develop a Devils team, who is young and has a core that can help build a solid future. Last year in Utica, Brylin was perhaps one of the critical coaches that helped Utica become that dominant team that led the AHL last year. Now that he’s up with the Devils, he can help those same players as Alexander Holtz, who is looking to join the Devils this year, become major key players. Brylin can also teach young guys like Yegor Sharangovich, Dawson Mercer, and even Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt to become better than they are now. Hopefully, this hire helps the franchise, and maybe his jersey can be raised to the rafters sometime in the future.