New Jersey Devils Q&A - July 6th, 2023

I answered your questions re: Nemec's ETA, Holtz' role, expectations in 2023-24, how to improve the power play, and more.

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I haven’t done a Q&A post since before the heart of the off-season storm. Now that things have simmered down a little bit, I figured it was a good time to change that.

Let’s get right to your questions.

Q: Would you say that the Devils would ideally like the 3rd D pair to be Bahl and Nemec with Smith and Miller rotating in, or do you think Miller would start the season as the 3rd pair RD to be the vet presence for Bahl?

I think the addition of Colin Miller definitely made Simon Nemec’s life more difficult in terms of getting an immediate role with the big club. Don’t get me wrong, the Devils will find a way to get him games if he looks really good and undoubtedly deserves it. But I think the bar moved from ‘show well and you can play most nights’ to ‘show very well or you’re not making the roster.’

I don’t think that’s a bad thing, per se. If Nemec has to go back to Utica for a bit more seasoning and wait for an opportunity – whether he forces the team into one by dominating the AHL, an injury arises, etc. – it’s not the end of the world.

I still believe he is going to make things interesting. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he flat out takes a job. But that’s what he’ll have to do now that Miller is in the fold.

The Devils didn’t trade for Miller, who (playoffs included) dressed in 89 games on a very good Dallas team last year, with the intention of having him sit in the press box full-time. Even if Nemec takes the RD role on P3, Miller will still get his fair share of games.

TLDR: I think the Devils probably have Bahl and Miller penciled in on the 3rd pairing with Smith as an extra. Nemec is the wild card who could change things – but the Devils didn’t want to bank on him being NHL ready with no real insurance.

Q: Are you scared of the defense / depth on it?

Not at all. We know Dougie Hamilton, Jonas Siegenthaler, and John Marino are legitimately good top-4 defensemen who can log heavy minutes.

I think Luke Hughes will be one this year as well. A few games is a few games but he looked so good to end last season and, in an air tight affair with the season on the line, he played more minutes than everyone but Marino.

That wasn’t done out of charity. Lindy Ruff wasn’t throwing in the towel and coaching for the future. He wanted to win and rightfully believed Hughes was someone who could really help him do that.

I think the top-4 is strong and plenty good enough, especially playing behind an elite group of forwards.

When you consider some of the garbage teams trot out on their 3rd pairings each night, being able to make up that unit with some combination of Bahl, Miller, Nemec, and Smith is a luxury.

If for some reason Ruff can’t find some combination that works, Tom Fitzgerald can always add at the deadline. My level of worry with the defense is a solid 1/10.

Q: Are we as good as we/people think we are (top 3 in the league)? What are your expectations for the team this upcoming season, as currently constructed?