The New Jersey Devils wanted an excellent efficiency on dwelling ice, and as they packed their baggage to go to Western Canada, they’d one remaining probability for a optimistic sendoff. That probability got here in a matchup with the Anaheim Geese, which went virtually completely to plan. The Devils acquired good goaltending, performed quick, good hockey, constructed a lead and added on, and at last placed on a dominating efficiency on dwelling ice. It will have been an ideal evening had the Devils been capable of board the airplane to Vancouver absolutely wholesome. That was not the case as stalwart, energizer bunny middle Curtis Lazar suffered a extreme knee damage after receiving a unclean, mid-ice hip test from Radko Gudas. Lazar needed to be helped off the ice and didn’t journey with the group. He now faces critical rehab to attempt to return for a playoff push. The Devils moved rapidly to name up journeyman Justin Dowling from Utica to fill in because the 4C. That’s unlikely to be the ultimate resolution to the issue of lacking Lazar.
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The Lazar absence was additional difficult on the Western swing as fellow fourth-liner Nathan Bastian stepped into Flames ahead Ryan Lomberg, asking the latter to atone for a hit by Lomberg on the Devils’ Paul Cotter. In an ungainly change, Bastian was pinned towards the boards, unable to defend himself absolutely. Lomberg landed a number of direct blows to Bastian’s jaw earlier than the altercation was stopped. Bastian suffered a jaw damage and was despatched again to New Jersey for analysis and therapy. Head coach Sheldon Keefe later introduced that Bastian would miss “a number of” weeks because of the damage, leaving two-thirds of the opening evening fourth line out of motion for the foreseeable future. The Devils will head again to New Jersey after enjoying a Connor McDavid-less Oilers group in want of reinforcements for the fourth line. Thankfully, they aren’t with out choices.
Choice 1: AHL Choices
If depth at right-shot protection is the group’s energy, depth at middle could be the weak spot. Sadly for normal supervisor Tom Fitzgerald, the group doesn’t have an apparent plug-and-play 4C it might probably name up from Utica. A lot of the group’s American Hockey League (AHL) depth at ahead resides on the wing in Nolan Foote, Chase Stillman, and Brian Halonen. In a latest sport, the Comets lined up with Dowling, Ryan Schmelzer, Shane Bowers, and Filip Engaras as their facilities on traces one by way of 4. Engaras can be injured and go away the sport. None of these gamers have demonstrated that they’re greater than borderline NHL gamers for his or her careers.
Bowers, a former first-round decide, continues to be solely 25 and acquired an audition final season with New Jersey and thru coaching camp however has not proven sufficient to advantage this call-up or a everlasting roster spot. With the dearth of a standout choice in Utica, the Devils may rotate by way of these choices to see if they might catch hearth in a bottle with one and experience that success for a couple of weeks, however that is the unlikeliest long-term choice.
The Devils may additionally mine the Comets for winger choices. They tried Foote at middle for a bit however canceled the experiment, selecting as a substitute to attempt to solidify him as a future NHL winger. They might doubtlessly decide as a substitute to discover a 4C elsewhere on their present NHL roster after which fortify their wings on the NHL degree with Halonen, Foote, Stillman, or possibly Max Willman or Adam Beckman. Nonetheless, none of these gamers seemingly transfer the needle long-term for a group trying to compete deep into the postseason. The group will seemingly add a ahead as soon as they return from the street journey, even whether it is only for depth forward of Thursday’s sport towards Montreal. Halonen and Foote are each off to good begins offensively, although Utica has been dreadful. Halonen seemingly suits the invoice extra merely as a result of being a right-hand shot to steadiness the lineup, with the group now being down two right-shot forwards. Halonen additionally doesn’t have to clear waivers to be despatched down, as Foote would (per Puckpedia).
Choice Two: The Reply is Already on the NHL Roster
Now that the group is down two gamers, it could be tougher to fill the wants from the present NHL roster. The Devils performed the Oilers with a roster of solely 21 gamers. They deployed Dowling at middle whereas sliding Kurtis MacDermid again into the lineup at left wing and transferring Tomas Tatar to proper wing. That is additionally not a long-term resolution because the Devils have been unable to discover a sustained position for MacDermid when he’s within the lineup. He has not averaged greater than 5:05 of ice time for a season since 2022-23 and has not averaged greater than 10 minutes since 2020-21. After they have performed him, both the remainder of the fourth line will get saved on the bench with him, over-extending the highest 9, or the Devils are pressured to play 11/6, stressing the rest of the forwards.
The opposite choice can be to maneuver Cotter again to middle and let him be the 4C. Tatar or a Utica participant may substitute him on the third line and the opposite on the fourth. Certainly, discovering a winger for Bastian for “a number of” weeks is less complicated than discovering a middle to fill in for Lazar for an prolonged time. Cotter, although, has been the group’s Swiss Military knife, enjoying all through the complete lineup. He’s the closest on the roster to recreating Lazar’s power and assault mentality, which is important for what New Jersey needs to do that season. His 33 hits by way of 12 video games demonstrates this, inserting him second on the group and placing him on a tempo for 246 for the season. With two gamers out, filling from inside looks as if the third-best choice, as it might solely weaken the group in a number of areas reasonably than shore up one.
Choice Three: Commerce/UFA
The ultimate choice can be to sift by way of remaining unsigned unrestricted free brokers or to commerce for fourth-line assist. With out realizing the total extent of Bastian’s damage, it’s troublesome to evaluate whether or not it’s value giving up belongings for gamers, however the choice needs to be absolutely thought-about. Thankfully for New Jersey, there’s a sturdy group of gamers on expiring contracts who may instantly assist the group. Listed below are a couple of choices:
Nico Sturm – San Jose Sharks
The Devils and San Jose Sharks have a historical past of buying and selling on the deadline. The groups have discovered synergy within the commerce market within the final two seasons. Each occasions, the Sharks facilitated the Devils’ wants in change for roster gamers and futures. Regardless of the additions of Toffoli and Alex Wennberg, plus the drafting of Macklin Celebrini, the Sharks are nonetheless a couple of years away from critical competition. One participant they might be prepared to half with because the season strikes ahead is middle Nico Sturm.
Sturm is the quintessential fourth-line middle. In 2023-24, he was first within the NHL in faceoff win share, profitable over 60% of his attracts. He averages over 100 hits per 82 video games for his profession, and he would convey the expertise of being a part of a Stanley Cup winner to the locker room. The one draw back is that he’s a left-hand shot however the Devils may make it work as Sturm is the perfect match and can be an excellent add on the deadline, not to mention earlier than American Thanksgiving. He must be New Jersey’s precedence.
Kevin LaBanc – Columbus Blue Jackets
Kevin LaBanc checks lots of containers for New Jersey. He’s right-handed, performs heavy, and after a complete skilled tryout (PTO) stint on this yr’s preseason, he is aware of the personnel and system. Columbus stays within the hunt however has been decimated by damage and would seemingly be trying to accumulate belongings. LaBanc selected to signal with the Blue Jackets regardless of an equal cope with New Jersey due to the potential for extra enjoying time. With two openings on the fourth line, the group may benefit from his rugged play and scoring contact. With LaBanc on a one-year league minimal deal, the acquisition value must be reasonably priced, and he can be a right away improve over the AHL choices.
Cal Clutterbuck, Unrestricted Free Agent
The long-time New York Islanders ahead stays unsigned however has signaled that he could wish to proceed enjoying. He’s a quintessential fourth-line participant who may thrive in Keefe’s system ought to he be in form and wholesome. Clutterbuck has had damage considerations however is coming off a yr the place he performed all 82 video games.
He’s not shy to throw his physique round, averaging 311 hits per 82 video games. He would convey a few of the hearth and power to fill the void from shedding Lazar and Bastian. He additionally ought to be capable of be signed at a decrease value and would have motivation after being overlooked of the Islanders’ plans.
Craig Smith/Jake Evans, Chicago/Montreal
The Chicago Blackhawks and Montreal Canadiens aren’t off to the beginning every had hoped, making their 4Cs on expiring contracts expendable. Craig Smith and Jake Evans are within the ultimate yr of their contracts and are strong right-shot facilities. Smith is within the latter levels of his profession, whereas Evans is simply 28. Neither is as bodily as the opposite three listed or Lazar and Bastian, however each have NHL pedigrees and can be cheap to amass and definitely a greater stopgap than any middle the Devils at the moment have of their system.
Because the calendar turns to November, the Devils are confronted with remaking their fourth line. They’ve a minimum of 3 ways to fill the gaping holes left by the losses of Lazar and Bastian. One of the best wager is that they are going to seemingly look internally first however could should go exterior their organizational depth to safe a longer-term resolution at middle, with Lazar’s anticipated absence lasting months, not weeks.
