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It’s time for another edition of everyone’s favorite newsletter post, Friday Five.
This week I touched on clearing bodies, taking on the Carolina Hurricanes, projecting this year’s style of play, and more.
Let’s get to it!
Q: We're in the dog days of August but our collective consensus is that Sunny still has a few moves to make as far as clearing space...We've discussed Dillon, Noesen, Bjug, etc... is it weird that we're a few weeks from camp and they're still here? Does that insinuate that they may be staying? It'd also be hard to bring in PTOs given we're already full... thoughts?
I don’t think it is strange, no. The NHL is in the mid-summer holding pattern it always seems to go into and there is very little, if any, activity league-wide.
It will pick up as camps get closer. We could also see additional movement when things open up and teams get a better idea if AHLers and/or prospects they wanted to get a look at are ready for NHL duty.
We are still going to see movement at some point. The Devils have 15 forwards who either a) have real NHL experience or; b) can’t go to Utica without waivers.
Cutting Lenni Hameenaho – even for the short term – is one way to mitigate that issue, but the Devils would still have 14 forwards for 13 spots, assuming they are carrying three goalies.
Barring injury, we will see someone shipped out up front (I expect Stefan Noesen or, possibly, Nick Bjugstad). It’s just a matter of when.
I wouldn’t worry too much about PTOs because you’re mostly looking at Luke Glendening-esque players, and the Devils have no need for that.
Q: Lets say Quinn Hughes signs in Minnesota. Can be for any number of years. Fans are hoping for him but is there any kind of potential back up plan? Someone Sunny could consider or would he spend the money elsewhere?
