Walsh was actually a better AHL D-man last year than this one. I think he knows what is coming and he is desperately trying to insert himself into the picture. Unfortunately, he has taken that to mean he has to take the matter into his own hands. The result has been way too many one man efforts. Always trying to carry the puck up ice and making moves to beat defenders in his way when the right move is to pass the puck to an open teammate. The result has been numerous unnecessary turnovers in all 3 zones.
On the PP he tries to carry the puck into the offensive zone, gets challenged and either turns it over or dumps it when all of his PP partners are standing still at the blueline making an ice length clear easy for the opponent. When he gets possession at the point his first thought is to shoot himself. This would be fine if he had a clear lane to the net, but usually he doesn't so his shots are blocked, or deflected wide, deflected out of play, collected by the opponent and shipped all the way down again. He forces shot after shot.
This wasn't his game last year. He did the right things most often and that led to good scoring chances on the PP, breakouts for the Comets with chances for him to join the rush, and chances to log assists by giving the puck to open mates.
Right now I see him as an AHL player with a chance to fill in when injuries leave the Devils in need of a callup. He might be used in a trade to sweeten a deal. I could also see his career moving to Europe in a few more seasons, a couple of which may be at the AHL level care of another NHL franchise.
