Can you guys give me some insight into Devils players who made their NHL debut last season? Specifically what type of player they are, if they have an NHL future and what role they project as in the long-term. Thanks!
Will Butcher
Jesper Bratt
Ken Appleby
Count me as one who doubts Butcher's ability to be a top pairing D-man. He's not that big but more importantly doesn't have the skates. Smart player though with great puck skills. Last year he was very good with very sheltered minutes. And though I am skeptical, his play was such to at least earn the right to get more responsibility. Whether or not he can handle tougher 5v5 assignments I do have confidence he will continue to be effective on the PP.
Bratt came out of nowhere after posting ho hum #'s in the swedish minors last year. He was excellent in preseason, tenacious and skilled, really made his mark on some highlight PK's. Heavy fore checking, winning puck battles, fending off defenders and then finishing. It was pretty amazing. And that carried over into the regular season though it was on the PP where he racked up points. Through the first half of the season there were some who liked him more then Nico, and though I disagreed it wasn't that outlandish to think so. His game really stalled in the 2nd half of the year though it was most likely due to the heavy workload at such a young age. Conditioning an strength training should be priorities this off season.
Appleby has had some OK seasons in the AHL, but this past season he was the best goalie behind what was a very bad team, so the #'s might be misleading, in the short time we saw him in NJ, I thought he looked pretty lumbering.