Hopefully NJ enjoys relative health next season and he can just stay in Utica for a full year without any pressure to work on whatever parts of his game need adjusting to work in the NHL. Ideally he doesn't see NJ for more than a handful of games at some point.Wasn't sure if he'd sign or go back to michigan, but good news.
I expect him to be the 1D in utica and come up to the big show if 1 of Luke Hamilton or Nemec gets hurt as an offensive dman.
Then next year transition into a full time role, probably 3rd pairing and somewhat sheltered, and go from there. Take it nice and slow.
Feels like a guy who's going to be perennially underrated. Small, so his defense will be underrated, and won't rack up the PP points for the casual fan to notice him offensively because there isn't opportunity.
Hopefully he doesn't need to play, but nice to have as an insurance option. Certainly the best RHD we'll have available as an injury replacement.Hopefully NJ enjoys relative health next season and he can just stay in Utica for a full year without any pressure to work on whatever parts of his game need adjusting to work in the NHL. Ideally he doesn't see NJ for more than a handful of games at some point.
Smith (maybe bring him back on a veterans minimum and have him in the AHL)?
I believe Casey and the Devils had the option of having the contract start this year and burning, despite the Devils not playing, or signing a contract that starts next year. The NHL year hasn’t closed so teams can still sign players for this year and with Casey’s age it would have burned regardless if he played a game.Happy he didn't sign at the end of a yr and burn a yr
I hope Smitty goes into coaching, he'd be really good at it. His body is his enemy not his compete level. Toughest guy on the team by a country mile!Hopefully he doesn't need to play, but nice to have as an insurance option. Certainly the best RHD we'll have available as an injury replacement.
In terms of my preferred order:
Left side: Hughes, Guy via trade/UFA, Siegenthaler, Bahl/Hatakka, Vilen, Misyul.
Right side: Dougie, Nemec, Marino, Casey, Smith (maybe bring him back on a veterans minimum and have him in the AHL)?
Hatakka/Bahl, if not traded previously, should compete for the 7D spot imo.
Lot of options at the LD, whether it's a guy like Pettersson, Fehevary, Dumoulin, McNabb, Hague, Girard, Brodie, Cole, Dillon, etc etc.
Nope. Both Smith and Walsh couldn't skate and that was their demise. Had absolutely nothing to do with development, it was their deficiencies that were the problem.Anyone else getting Ty Smith/Reilly Walsh vibes? Hopefully the new regime does a better job refining the defensive areas of the game.
Not even remotely.Anyone else getting Ty Smith/Reilly Walsh vibes? Hopefully the new regime does a better job refining the defensive areas of the game.
Nope. Both Smith and Walsh couldn't skate and that was their demise. Had absolutely nothing to do with development, it was their deficiencies that were the problem.
Casey doesn't fit in that category... question is can he handle the size and strength of NHL forwards? It'll be interesting to see him in the AHL against bigger and faster players...I think we'll get a clue pretty quickly whether or not he can handle bigger and stronger players.