Todd Cordell: Six things to watch during the New Jersey Devils preseason openers

Looks like we've gone from Travis and the Texans to Zajac and Jespers.

NOT dumping on Travis, but those are some fast guys for him to play with.
Hope he's got the wheels going.

Can't believe Mueller is buries so deep in the pairings.
I guess they don't have a lot of confidence in him really improving.

Even if McLeod does play well in preseason does he fit in the line up without injuries?

Assuming boqvist makes the team

With respect to Hischier and the other boys, I'm watching the Boston game. I'm loving the birth of a bromance between Gusev and Hughes. They could make some magic happen.

Everyone is making a big deal of the Jespers playing with Zajac. I think this is a temporary thing until Zacha's work visa is squared away.

People are wondering why Zacha didn't complete his work visa earlier, but you have to remember he didn't sign his contract until a couple of days before camp. It takes time to complete the visa, and he can't "work" for his company until it's squared away. That's why there were no Zacha interviews while he was in camp. I guess legally he can interview after signing his contract but not during camp.

Once Zacha joins the group I think they'll try him out between the Jespers. Zajac will roll with Coleman and Wood. Trying Coleman at center right now just gives the team options when a center falls to injury, especially during a game. They can slide him over at center and double shift Hall on the wing if needed.

On paper, the following projected lines look good:

Wood-Zajac-Coleman
Boqvist-Zacha-Bratt
Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Simmonds

NOTE: I'm not defining line-numbers, just the possible line combinations for the season.

Obviously everyone has to live up to their potential. If their scoring is horrible like last season, I'd really start to question Hynes and the coaching staff. This group should be averaging 3 goals per game.

For sure its going to be better to watch the home team squad tonight. All the new faces on that squad.

Simmonds wont play tonight, he's day to day with a lower body injury suffered in the scrimmage yesterday. Skated this morning and its not considered serious

Simmonds wont play tonight, he's day to day with a lower body injury suffered in the scrimmage yesterday. Skated this morning and its not considered serious
- vlongo4419

Better now than later

Everyone is making a big deal of the Jespers playing with Zajac. I think this is a temporary thing until Zacha's work visa is squared away.

People are wondering why Zacha didn't complete his work visa earlier, but you have to remember he didn't sign his contract until a couple of days before camp. It takes time to complete the visa, and he can't "work" for his company until it's squared away. That's why there were no Zacha interviews while he was in camp. I guess legally he can interview after signing his contract but not during camp.

Once Zacha joins the group I think they'll try him out between the Jespers. Zajac will roll with Coleman and Wood. Trying Coleman at center right now just gives the team options when a center falls to injury, especially during a game. They can slide him over at center and double shift Hall on the wing if needed.

On paper, the following projected lines look good:

Wood-Zajac-Coleman
Boqvist-Zacha-Bratt
Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Simmonds

NOTE: I'm not defining line-numbers, just the possible line combinations for the season.

Obviously everyone has to live up to their potential. If their scoring is horrible like last season, I'd really start to question Hynes and the coaching staff. This group should be averaging 3 goals per game.
- CardiffGiant

Zajac and Zacha are probably interchangeable between those wingers.
My inclination is actually Zajac with Bratt and Boquvist as he's the more seasoned player. Wood and Coleman are more experienced and are fine with Zacha as the less veteran center. But it's just a guess and they'll have to see how the all the line combos look together; although if I remember correctly I think Hynes like to find pairs that click and build from there. Whatever.

DEVILS ARE BACK BABY!

Better now than later
- willschulme

It doesn't work that way.

It doesn't work that way.
- Queenie_5_hole

Lol let me be optimistic

Lol let me be optimistic
- willschulme

I was actually very optimistic about Simmonds bouncing back this year, but it's not encouraging to hear he didn't make it thru his first practice.

It's probably nothing....

I was actually very optimistic about Simmonds bouncing back this year, but it's not encouraging to hear he didn't make it thru his first practice.

It's probably nothing....
- Queenie_5_hole

If I had to pick one player to bet my money on being a disappointment this year it would probably be Simmonds. I hope I'm wrong.

Looks like Ray is going to give Zacha lines instead of him being put on a line.

"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."

Looks like Ray is going to give Zacha lines instead of him being put on a line.

"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
"I will not threaten to leave for the KHL again."
- archromat

Zacha is still dealing with his work visa. It's nothing.

Today @ 12:09 PM ET
Everyone is making a big deal of the Jespers playing with Zajac. I think this is a temporary thing until Zacha's work visa is squared away.

People are wondering why Zacha didn't complete his work visa earlier, but you have to remember he didn't sign his contract until a couple of days before camp. It takes time to complete the visa, and he can't "work" for his company until it's squared away. That's why there were no Zacha interviews while he was in camp. I guess legally he can interview after signing his contract but not during camp.

Once Zacha joins the group I think they'll try him out between the Jespers. Zajac will roll with Coleman and Wood. Trying Coleman at center right now just gives the team options when a center falls to injury, especially during a game. They can slide him over at center and double shift Hall on the wing if needed.

On paper, the following projected lines look good:

Wood-Zajac-Coleman
Boqvist-Zacha-Bratt
Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
-CardiffGiant

Zacha who didn't score a point until about 15 games into the season and will miss a few games in pre season, and you think he will start the season on the second line as a centre ?
What you mean is you HOPE they put Zacha on the second line as a centre and then the two jasper's can do the work of being creative and offensive talents so Zacha can pick off there leftovers by being in the same vicinity and get more points so people like you can say he is playing better now, like strome with debrincat.

I'm intrested to see how Clarke handles himself

If I had to pick one player to bet my money on being a disappointment this year it would probably be Simmonds. I hope I'm wrong.
- devilspep

It's a three way race between Simmonds, Zacha (as always) and my dark horse candidate is Hayden. As in why did we trade for this guy?

I wanna see Baddock light someone up haha guy can throw a punch. I also have found it odd that he has been able to stick around in the org as he was drafted a while ago and I dont think he brings much to the table outside of fighting but there has to be a reason they have kept him around.

It's a three way race between Simmonds, Zacha (as always) and my dark horse candidate is Hayden. As in why did we trade for this guy?
- Queenie_5_hole

They seem to think he is a real tough character. Im not sure what made them believe that as he comes off as a larger ryan carter to me. Yeah he will defend himself but you wont ever throw money down on him winning.

They seem to think he is a real tough character. Im not sure what made them believe that as he comes off as a larger ryan carter to me. Yeah he will defend himself but you wont ever throw money down on him winning.
- Devilish4

NOt just tough, but Hynes says he is really smart. Seems like a do-it-all type player, with great character.

NOt just tough, but Hynes says he is really smart. Seems like a do-it-all type player, with great character.
- Leniwm1

Yeah they like him a lot for a guy who barely cracked a bad chicago teams offense. I dont think he will be able to be more then a fourth liner but we do need a fourth line so it is important. I remember early in his career seeing him tangle with someone and it made me look up his fights and the rest left me thinking that I probably caught his best one as my opinion changed right after. I think the Ryan Carter comparision is good .

Zacha is still dealing with his work visa. It's nothing.
- Pomegrant

He’s a bad hombre, he has to go back.

Any of you guys use game center ? Im in canada so not sure how popular it is in the states but i havent purchased my seasons pass yet but was wondering if any of you knew if you needed to, to catch the game. I only ask because i noticed this morning it let me watch all of the vegas game but I dont know if that was because it was after the fact it happened or if I would have got to either way?

still looking for a manager in my yahoo fantasy league. 20 teams, full roster, advanced stats, no keepers, no money, draft is 9/21 at 9:30pm EST.