2. Activate Santeri Hatakka
Santeri Hatakka hasn’t played a game this season after he suffered a shoulder injury right before the season started. He had to get surgery, but it appears he’s ready to go after practicing for a few weeks with the Devils. Now, the question is whether he will take a conditioning stint with the Comets or if he will jump directly into the lineup.
Hatakka was the surprise piece of the Timo Meier trade. He’s a young defenseman with NHL upside, and he plays naturally on the left side. It hasn't been too bad when he’s been in the NHL. He’s 24 years old now, so we expect him to be in the NHL full-time at this point. If he isn’t, it’s almost guaranteed that the Devils would lose him for nothing through waivers.
So, instead of losing him for nothing after his conditioning stint (or just keeping him stapled to the owner’s box), it makes a lot of sense to give him a shot in the NHL. With Siegenthaler out of commission, Hatakka would give the Devils the smoothest transition. He’s not as good defensively as Siegs, but he gives the Devils more balance and can play his role.
This one might be our preference if Sheldon Keefe believes in what he sees in practice. It’s hard to make this distinction without knowing how he’s recovering from the shoulder injury. If he’s close to 100 percent, then give him a shot.