5 New Jersey Devils Prospects Who Need A Shot In NHL Now That Season Is Cooked
The New Jersey Devils have a minute chance to make the playoffs, so they are basically playing for next season. These five players should get a shot in the NHL for the rest of the season.
By Nick Villano
The New Jersey Devils might be cooked. The Athletic's new predictions came out, and they give the Devils a 2% chance to make the playoffs. While Lloyd Christmas has confidence this season can turn around, being six points out with this little time remaining is not a good spot to be in. The Devils have already made some moves with injuries mounting, but they should focus on some of the youth this season.
The Devils have most of their superstar prospects on the team already. Simon Nemec and Luke Hughes are regulars in the lineup. Alexander Holtz, while not in a position most of us appreciate, is in the lineup every night. Dawson Mercer is trying to find his space, but he's doing it in the NHL lineup.
Which New Jersey Devils prospects deserve a look in the NHL?
However, there are enough prospects coming out in Utica and other places that the Devils should give a shot this season with what's left.
Santeri Hatakka
We'll start with the obvious one. Santeri Hatakka was called up after injuries to Jonas Siegenthaler and John Marino. The Devils are in a desperate position on the defensive front, with pretty much all of their veteran starters gone (Dougie Hamilton, Siegenthaler, and Marino injured, and Miller was traded). So, Hatakka will get another chance.
He really didn't deserve to get sent down to the Utica Comets at all. Only Hamilton, Jesper Bratt, and Ondrej Palat have a better high-danger chance percentage than Hatakka, who at 5v5 had 23 high-danger chances for and 18 high-danger chances against. He should get a full look for the rest of the season. There is a good chance that he could be in the lineup come Prague.