![]() ![]() When he came back to New Jersey for development camp, it was noticeable that he has filled out his frame and put on additional muscle. Can Holtz Challenge for a Top-Six Role?Īlexander Holtz has been busy this offseason training alongside Bratt with trainer Andreas Öhgren. The safe assumption is the team’s top two lines will be Palat-Hischier-Bratt and Sharangovich-Hughes-Mercer, but there will be young players at camp who got a taste of the big club last season and will be ready to fight for a top-six spot next week. The four aforementioned players are seemingly the ones to beat if someone is looking to play alongside Hughes and Hischier. The team has plenty of options at the center position, which makes it likely Mercer will spend majority of the time on the wing. It would give the team’s top nine depth and open up a top-six role if another youngster is looking to challenge for the position. The Newfoundland native is guaranteed a top-nine position, and while Ruff can easily reunite the 20-year-old with his aforementioned linemates, he could be an intriguing option to play alongside Erik Haula on the third line. ![]() Last season, fans saw the versatility of rookie Dawson Mercer as he was utilized as both a center on the third line and a top winger with Hughes and Sharangovich. The former Tampa Bay Lightning forward signed a five-year contract back in July, and will be a nice addition to either the first or second line.ĭawson Mercer, Jesper Boqvist, Yegor Sharangovich of the New Jersey Devils celebrate ( Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers) Sharangovich historically plays his best hockey alongside Hughes, and it could be argued he is primed for his own breakout season now that Sergei Brylin is part of Ruff’s coaching staff. ![]() The coaching staff will put him into a position to build off of last season’s success most likely alongside Hischier. 3, the organization avoided salary arbitration with Bratt by signing him to a one-year “show me” contract worth $5,450,000. The top six are almost a lock as Ondrej Palat, Jesper Bratt, and Yegor Sharangovich should be seeing plenty of minutes alongside the team’s top two centers and former first-overall picks. Players Who Are Expected to Play Top-Six Minutes The good news is he and his staff will have plenty of options this season as there is a good mix of veterans and rookies who are ready to compete for roster spots. We will first look at the wingers, and if there is one thing we learned about head coach Lindy Ruff last season is that he does not want to depend on his top-six players to get the job done, he is looking to roll four balanced lines. There is always competition at training camp, but this season is setting up for something a bit more intense as the team has a mix of veterans and hungry prospects who got a taste of life in the NHL last season.Īhead of training camp, I will be publishing a mini-series that will focus on wingers, centers and defensemen and what the battle will look like at each position. The winners of the Hart Trophy, Norris Trophy, Vezina Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award also will be revealed.In less than a week, Prudential Center will be buzzing with rookies who will be looking to fight for a spot on the New Jersey Devils’ opening night roster. The NHL's annual awards show will air live from Tampa, Florida, between Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. ![]() Seider rightfully finished as a finalist for the Calder Trophy, and Tuesday (7 p.m., ESPN) will finally reveal whether he'll be the Wings' first winner since goaltender Roger Crozier in 1965. NHL DRAFT: Why Marco Kasper would be perfect for Red Wings at No. Moritz Seider's impact on the Detroit Red Wings was summed up by his teammates and former coach in mid-February, when they pointed to the young defenseman as the biggest reason they were in the conversation for a wild card spot.Įven as the Wings slid down the standings and missed the playoffs for a sixth straight year, Seider's superiority was on display: He scored his seventh goal in the season finale to finish with 50 points, the first time a Wings defenseman has topped that marker since Hockey Hall of Famer Nicklas Lidstrom in 2010-11. ![]()
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