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Balanced Attack?

September 19, 2014, 10:32 AM ET [85 Comments]
Todd Cordell
New Jersey Devils Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
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The New Jersey Devils are hitting the ice in training camp today, and we're getting our first glimpse of how Pete DeBoer plans on utilizing his lines; at least to start.

The top two lines in the first session today are as follows:

Mike Cammalleri - Travis Zajac - Jaromir Jagr
Dainius Zubrus - Patrik Elias - Martin Havlat

I don't think the first line is surprising at all. The Devils didn't get much production from the left wing on the top line last season, so naturally you're going to put the team's biggest off-season addition, and their best goal scorer, in that spot. Cammalleri fared very well playing with Mikael Backlund, who plays a similar game as Zajac, so it makes sense to give that duo a shot with Jagr on the right side.

As for the second line, we knew Elias and Havlat would be together. The real surprise is that Zubrus is on the left side. DeBoer has openly said he has no problem using Adam Henrique at left wing or center, so one would assume he'd use that versatility to ensure Henrique's always playing in a top-6 role. That doesn't seem to be the case here, though.

Henrique hasn't hit the ice yet, so we don't know who DeBoer plans on putting with him, but I think the idea here is to go with a balanced attack and use three scoring lines. It's the first day of camp so I may be reading too much into this, but I find it interesting nonetheless.

I'm curious to see if this is just a short-term solution, or if DeBoer is really committed to spreading out his top-6 talent and creating three legitimate scoring lines.

We'll get a better idea once the preseason begins Monday night.

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