Devils 2021 training camp thread (news, notes and speculation) - Part III [MOD warning in OP]

[Hockey Sports Fan]

i actually think Holtz WONT make the opening night roster. I think he could use a little more seasoning; a little more time working in a system and getting used to smaller ice while playing tons of minutes . Mercer doesn’t look like he needs any seasoning at all. He might as well be practicing and going through the motions with an NHL team.

I think Holtz absolutely COULD make the team, and if/when he gets called up, he’s not going back down. But i think Fitzgerald knows the regular season is a marathon and keeps both Jankowski and Vesey and also maybe Studenic or Zetterlund to play depth roles. Nobody’s worried about those guys’ development.

 

[Emperoreddy]

So ELC slides all of a sudden dont matter?

Ty Smith was left down for two straight seasons after looking much better than Holtz, all for an ELC slide.

i think it matters much more than youre letting on

Ty couldn't go to the AHL though. It's much easier to send Holtz to Utica and you can easily bring him back if needed or if he earns it.

I see no reason to deny the kid a few games right now. He is playing well so unless he craters in preseason i think he earned it.

Ty looked completely lost at his first camp. Holtz has looked more ready then he did when they sent Ty back to juniors.

 

[HyperX]

Ty couldn't go to the AHL though. It's much easier to send Holtz to Utica and you can easily bring him back if needed or if he earns it.

I see no reason to deny the kid a few games right now. He is playing well so unless he craters in preseason i think he earned it.

Ty looked completely lost at his first camp. Holtz has looked more ready then he did when they sent Ty back to juniors.

Its how many games though

a few is fine.. like, a few or nine

My only issue is Holtz playing enough to burn an ELC year when, quite frankly, I dont think hed improve as much in the areas he needs to as if he was playing top minutes in the AHL

We know he can score and pass, but Im not sure if he can do much else at an NHL level right now

 

[Emperoreddy]

Its how many games though

a few is fine.. like, a few or nine

My only issue is Holtz playing enough to burn an ELC year when, quite frankly, I dont think hed improve as much in the areas he needs to as if he was playing top minutes in the AHL

We know he can score and pass, but Im not sure if he can do much else at an NHL level right now

5 or so games and you reassess from there.

I have no issue burning the year if he earns it beyond those few games. If not send him to Utica.

 

[Triumph]

Its how many games though

a few is fine.. like, a few or nine

My only issue is Holtz playing enough to burn an ELC year when, quite frankly, I dont think hed improve as much in the areas he needs to as if he was playing top minutes in the AHL

We know he can score and pass, but Im not sure if he can do much else at an NHL level right now

He is almost certain to burn the year. Even if he gets sent down to the AHL to begin the season, there's almost no way he would stay there all year, and it would only be in worst-case scenarios that he doesn't burn it (either he's not good enough in the AHL or he gets injured).

 

[Emperoreddy]

I am not convinced Holtz will stick this year either BTW. I just see no harm in giving him a taste and seeing how he does based on his preseason so far.

 

[HyperX]

5 or so games and you reassess from there.

I have no issue burning the year if he earns it beyond those few games. If not send him to Utica.

Thats perfect for me

Though some feel hes the first call-up if injuries happen and I just dont see that either (especially if he plays 5-6 of his 9 and is sent down early)

 

[Sheros expletives]

Ty couldn't go to the AHL though. It's much easier to send Holtz to Utica and you can easily bring him back if needed or if he earns it.

I see no reason to deny the kid a few games right now. He is playing well so unless he craters in preseason i think he earned it.

Ty looked completely lost at his first camp. Holtz has looked more ready then he did when they sent Ty back to juniors.

Wrong. Ty was the last cut his first camp. His second camp however was much worse.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Thats perfect for me

Though some feel hes the first call-up if injuries happen and I just dont see that either (especially if he plays 5-6 of his 9 and is sent down early)

If a skill guy goes down with injury him and Foote absolutely should be first in line to fill in barring bad AHL play (which would be really concerning)

 

[HyperX]

I am not convinced Holtz will stick this year either BTW. I just see no harm in giving him a taste and seeing how he does based on his preseason so far.

Normally I advocate for prospects coming up earlier than most as I dont really think ruining a player is much more than their own emotional issues.

But with Alex.. his knowledge of the NA game, its tendencies, and its nuances is so raw that learning that (on top of adjusting to NHL pace as a not-the-strongest strong skater at 19) is a LOT to ask

Whens the last time we had someone tear up the AHL? Let Alex do that and adjust to the size of the rink, the motions he needs to be making on the ice for cycles and so on.. things like that.

Dawson already has a commanding base on these sort of topics and has done very well to refine them. Its Alex's turn and thatll take some time (probably this year and then make the team fulltime next year)

 

[Emperoreddy]

It might be the best for him to take some lumps in the NHL so he can better understand and start adjusting to NHL speed.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Interesting that the devils have over a week(8 days) in between their last preseason game and their season opener. That’s much more than most teams and will give them lots of time to work on systems and special teams.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I wonder if they put a claim on Carrick to bring him in to be the 7th D.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

“A number of days” doesn’t really tell us much

 

[Captain3rdLine]

 

[hidek91]

I wonder if they put a claim on Carrick to bring him in to be the 7th D.

With Severson, Subban, Hamilton, Smith types and also possibly Walsh, they really need defensive d-man in that position.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

This is good

 

[Devs3cups]

This is good

Also said he doesn't think that Jack's injury is serious and that he'll miss any time. The season starts in 2 weeks, pretty sure all the guys with minor injuries will be fine by then.

 

[captainscott]

i actually think Holtz WONT make the opening night roster. I think he could use a little more seasoning; a little more time working in a system and getting used to smaller ice while playing tons of minutes . Mercer doesn’t look like he needs any seasoning at all. He might as well be practicing and going through the motions with an NHL team.

I think Holtz absolutely COULD make the team, and if/when he gets called up, he’s not going back down. But i think Fitzgerald knows the regular season is a marathon and keeps both Jankowski and Vesey and also maybe Studenic or Zetterlund to play depth roles. Nobody’s worried about those guys’ development.

i thought studenic played very good today. easy to excited about all these prospects and lose sight but he quietly looks really good.. i think Holtz sticks personally but who knows could go either way.. i don't see jankowski... over thompson..... mercer is in as far as I'm concerned but no matter what we are gonna have 2-4 forwards in utica that probably deserve NHL minutes now