Devils don't have a ton of reliable LD depth. After the starters and Hatakka, it's Misyul (0 NHL games), Vilen (0 NHL games) and uh, I'm literally not sure who else. Think the team is just trying to have options and hope somebody surprises when injuries hit.I don't understand. You're D is stacked now, and Casey can step in at anytime.
Always liked NJ, I predicted you top 10 last year. Shows how much I know!
Same prediction this year.
Good Luck Jersey!!
Except in the finals against the Jets!
That's six guys on a left defense depth chart. That's three NHL regulars and three legit prospects. Not many teams have more than that.Devils don't have a ton of reliable LD depth. After the starters and Hatakka, it's Misyul (0 NHL games), Vilen (0 NHL games) and uh, I'm literally not sure who else. Think the team is just trying to have options and hope somebody surprises when injuries hit.
And he was legitimately pretty good with NJ in a small sample last year.
Sure, but my point is more that after 3 (theoretically) good NHL players, without Hatakka, there's two prospects who have yet to have a cup of coffee. If you're a contending team, I think you want SOMEBODY who has at least touched NHL ice in reserve, if possible.That's six guys on a left defense depth chart. That's three NHL regulars and three legit prospects. Not many teams have more than that.
Hatakka Kovacevic as a fourth pairing looks pretty good.Hatakka was quite good last year, I would argue he played better than both Bahl and Smith. Going into this season I thought he would be the ideal 6/7 guy, but with all the adds to our blueline he's probably looking more like the 8th.
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Hughes-Pesce
Dillon-Nemec
*Kovacevic, Hatakka
Really good mix of youth and experience, skill and grit, and far better quality of depth than we've seen from NJ's defense in a long time.