After a nice OT win vs the Pens is a good sign of life with this Devils team.
What a beauty for Bratt's OT goal!

Here is a very important stat the NHL Public Relations posted on their Twitter account;

New Jersey has received 54% of its points this season from players age 23 and younger..... No other team has a rate of 40% or higher.

The Devils also lead the league in points by rookies with 50 points (2nd in goals with 20) this season. As per Amanda Stein.

This is a great testament of the group of players, the work the Devils are doing and a glimpse of the future (not even factoring in Holtz, Foote etc.). And another reason for fans to "trust the process" as much as it is difficult at times. Let's hope this time will come with different results (a playoff birth) in next few years.

Now, onto the Flyers....
The Devils have had some success this season versus Philly. The Devils always show up for Flyers games.

When looking at the projected lineups:

Bratt-Hughes-Palmieri (Palmieri has been a lot more active and I am hopping these young studs can inject some more confidence and points for Palms)
Kuokkanen-Zajac-Sharangovich
Maltsev-Zacha-Merkley
Johnsson-McLeod-Wood

Smith-Seversen (Really like Seversen's play of late)
Kulikov-Subban (and Yes, Subban I believe is playing well and is a leader on and off the ice!)
Murray-Vatanen (Vatanen has played well enough to increase his value)

Blackwood-Wedgewood (a good goalie tandem. I am surprised Dell hasn't taken over the backup job for the Devils.)


Speaking of our goalies...
This brings me to a question I asked, who should be the Devils backup moving forward?
A few of you asked what was wrong with Wedgewood.
And after giving it some thought my question is;

Why not Wedgewood as Blackwood's backup?
When I asked, I was thinking longer term. It is realistic the Devils could make the playoffs in 2-3 seasons. Will Wedgewood be around then?
The other question, which is one that is being answered during this COVID shortened season is: Should we look at goalies (both starters and backups) differently?
Can starters play more than what Marty played? Can backups play more than Rollie Melanson played? (Old school Devils fans know the name. He played 1 game lol)

And I think Wedgewood at a bargain IS a bargain! I am sure he is due for a pay raise, and may indeed go to the highest bidder come free agency. Not bad for a guy who hasn't played an NHL game in years.

What are your thoughts on the backup position for the Devils?

Let's go Devils!!!

Truly yours,
The Devils Advocate