Welcome to the The Hockey Writers’ Countdown of the ten most impactful gamers of the 2024-25 season. This isn’t a countdown of the ten finest however relatively an inventory of these gamers who’re slated to have the most important influence. These are ten gamers who supply distinctive contributions, are tough to exchange and important to the Devils’ quest to return to the postseason. The listing begins with Curtis Lazar, coming in at #10.
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An unheralded acquisition on the 2023 Commerce Deadline, Curtis Lazar was a steal for the New Jersey Devils. Normal supervisor Tom Fitzgerald picked up Lazar in change for a future fourth-round choose. Lazar’s introduction to New Jersey was tough; between problems associated to his work visa, transferring 3000 miles away from his pregnant spouse and younger son after which struggling a torn MCL, Lazar persevered and contributed to the Devils’ comeback victory over the New York Rangers within the first spherical of the playoffs.
He returned to the Devils rejuvenated in coaching camp and demonstrated his worth instantly as the one participant to play all eight preseason contests. His preseason play was a harbinger of the marketing campaign forward as he grew to become an integral a part of the workforce on the ice and a fan favourite off of it.
Lazar Has First-Spherical Expertise
Drafted seventeenth general by the Ottawa Senators within the 2013 NHL Draft, Lazar left the Western Hockey League with a fame for relentless play, harmful pace, and a knack for being clutch. Heading into the draft, Lazar instructed NHL.com, “I received’t ‘wow’ folks with my offensive numbers, nevertheless it’s the little issues that I take nice satisfaction in If it’s blocking a shot or profitable a faceoff within the [defensive] zone, these are the varieties of issues I love to do.”
His pure expertise mixed with humility and maturity has served him effectively in his travels all through the NHL, the place he has been a beneficial member of the Senators, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Vancouver Canucks, and now the Devils.
Like many excessive draft picks, Lazar has molded his recreation to suit the wants of his workforce. Happily, he has not compromised his pace or tenacity, which makes him an ideal match for New Jersey. Final season, as accidents mounted, Lazar performed up and down the lineup, chipping in secondary scoring to ease the burden on the lineup, setting a career-high of 25 factors.
His play and management made him the Devils’ nominee for the Invoice Masterton Memorial Trophy, introduced to the NHL participant who “most exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to ice hockey.” It was Lazar’s third nomination.
Lazar’s pleasure and love of the sport is each evident and infectious. He first drew popularity of consuming a hamburger tossed on the ice after a win throughout goaltender Andrew “the Hamburglar” Hammond’s miraculous profitable streak in 2014-15. His humorousness cemented him as a fan favourite, and he has been featured a number of occasions, sporting a mic throughout the Stadium Collection recreation in opposition to the Philadelphia Flyers, throughout the workforce picture, and most not too long ago, he co-starred within the schedule launch video. Lazar has endeared himself to New Jersey by being accessible and all the time enjoying with the enjoyment of a child combined with relentless effort.
Lazar’s Affect on the Devils’ Success
Management, tenacity, and perseverance are all essential traits, however a participant’s profession will likely be short-lived if that doesn’t translate into efficiency. With Lazar, what you see is what you get each night time. He has discovered a manner to make use of his energy and pace to make an influence and is poised to make an excellent larger one in 2024-25 as he’s slated to start the season because the 4C underneath new head coach Sheldon Keefe.
After a tough loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb.15, when Lazar put his physique in hurt’s manner, teammate Brendan Smith was effusive in his reward for his fellow veteran. “I like his depth…there was a play within the second interval. He made an enormous block. I believe it was shorthanded, too, and it simply fires up the boys,” stated Smith. “It’s momentum. It retains the puck out of the web. He’s been competing all yr. I like his recreation. I believe he type of will get underestimated, however he’s a giant a part of this membership.”
Lazar has performed every little thing requested of him by the Devils and extra. He led the workforce in hits (by 28), Qall forwards in blocks by 15, tied for the workforce lead in short-handed objectives, and on a workforce with a aim differential of -17, he led all gamers at plus-10. He was additionally the middle for the notorious line brawl with the Rangers, dropping the gloves with former Satan Jimmy Vesey at middle ice. All that from a participant who solely averages simply north of 12 minutes a recreation.
After spending a lot of final season plugging holes within the lineup, Lazar will head into coaching camp with a extra outlined position. He’ll fill the footwear of one other former first-round draft choose, who used his pace and tenacity to develop into a premier bottom-six middle, Michael McLeod. Lazar is the straw that stirs the drink, and with the acquisition of gamers like Paul Cotter and Stefan Noesen, he could have way more assist this season setting the tone with pace and physicality on the forecheck.
Keefe’s system is based on excessive strain in all three zones, which ought to mesh effectively with Lazar’s recreation. He’s additionally the one right-hand shot slated to start out at middle, making him a beneficial commodity for defensive zone attracts, particularly on the penalty kill. His faceoff win proportion dipped under 50% final season (from 52% the prior yr), so regaining that kind will likely be important to his and the Devils’ success.
Fitzgerald hit a grand slam, prying Lazar away from the Canucks with solely a fourth-round choose. Discovering a participant of Lazar’s caliber, in his prime, who led his workforce in hits, short-handed objectives, and plus/minus is tough sufficient, however discovering one who’s a ten-year veteran on a $1 million deal till the top of subsequent season is a steal.
Lazar is within the driver’s seat for a increase except the Devils properly prolong him earlier than he reaches free company. Doing so could save the workforce cash, as comparable gamers have cashed on this offseason, and the cap is scheduled to rise once more. AFP Analytics initiatives Lazar to be in for a two-year deal price $2 million a season, which could possibly be low if Lazar repeats his efficiency from final season.
What They Are Saying About Lazar
After the Masterton nomination, the Devils interim head coach Travis Inexperienced was requested his ideas on Lazar being the nominee. He smiled and extolled Lazar’s worth each on and off the ice:
“Lazar is a well-liked man within the room. He works (laborious), he involves the rink every single day with a constructive angle, he does issues that a whole lot of gamers don’t like doing. He’s discovered a manner from being a excessive draft choose and a high-end aim scoring man and turned his profession into one the place he’s now a bottom-six man and a personality man within the room, and does a whole lot of the issues that go unnoticed however you actually need to win. You may’t have sufficient of these guys round as a result of they assist your workforce recover from the road a whole lot of nights.”
Travis Inexperienced, after observe on April 5, 2024
For what he brings to the locker room and on the ice, Lazar is the tenth most impactful participant on the Devils’ roster heading into the 2024-25 season. Keep tuned for quantity 9, coming quickly.
