2. Call up Nolan Foote
We mentioned the injuries to Nathan Bastian and Curtis Lazar earlier. When Lazar went down, they called up Justin Dowling. The veteran AHLer has been just fine in his limited time. The Devils might eventually make a move for a center depending on how long Lazar is out, but they should be able to make certain moves to replace Bastian in house.
On Monday, the Devils just slotted Kurtis MacDermid into the lineup, but the converted defenseman isn’t a long-term solution. He’s on the Devils for a very specific reason, and he’s needed in the games where the other team has a player who can be considered dirty.
Looking at the Utica Comets, who still haven’t recorded a win this season, two players stand out there. Brian Halonen leads the team in goals with four. However, the first shot of the season should go to Nolan Foote. He has eight points on the season in eight games, leading the team.
Foote was a surprising cut following training camp, going to Utica after the team returned home from Prague. It was clear with how Foote was being used in practice that he wasn’t making the roster right away, but he’s been one of the few bright spots on the Devils AHL affiliate. They should give him a chance to earn a role on this team.