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New Jersey Devils players were made available to the media today as they reported for the opening of training camp.
From what I can tell nothing too crazy was said but there were a few notable quotes worth discussing. Below are a few with some thoughts on each.
Zajac is certainly right about lack of depth being an issue. Last year the team broke camp with Jordin Tootoo, Tuomo Ruutu, Stephen Gionta and Brian O'Neill, among others, on the roster. None of those guys brought anything to the table offensively. High-end talent has also been lacking in recent years but even last season with Adam Henrique and Kyle Palmieri potting 30 goals the team still couldn't score. Lack of depth is the biggest reason why.
With Tootoo, Ruutu, Gionta, O'Neill, Bobby Farnham and co. being replaced full time by the likes of Joseph Blandisi, Reid Boucher, Beau Bennett and Pavel Zacha, among others, plus Taylor Hall being added to the fold their depth up front is miles ahead of where it was a year ago.
I keep seeing this talked about but I think giving Greene a more offensive role would be a bad idea. Not that he wouldn't be a useful contributor but he's much more valuable playing tough minutes against top competition. The reason, of course, is because the Devils don't really have anyone else who can handle those minutes. Ben Lovejoy is a very poor man's Greene so easing up on Greene's usage and giving tough minutes to Lovejoy, for example, would be a disaster.
Give Damon Severson top pairing minutes with Greene at even-strength and play him on the man advantage. Give Lovejoy the 2nd toughest assignments at evens and let him eat up Larsson's minutes on PK1 alongside Greene. That may not be ideal but I'm pretty confident saying it's the best option at this point.
This is great news. Cammalleri has struggled to stay healthy in recent years but when in the lineup he has been a consistent contributor offensively. Last season he had 38 points and 101 shots on goal in 42 games playing for a team with very few weapons up front. With a better supporting cast he won't be relied upon as heavily but it'd be great if he could find a way to play even 60-65 games.
Taylor Hall is fourth in the NHL in 5 v 5 points (behind only Sidney Crosby, Patrick Kane and Jamie Benn) over the last four seasons and now he's coming to New Jersey pissed off and ready to prove the Edmonton Oilers wrong for trading him. He is going to go off this season.
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