Three experiments the New Jersey Devils should test during the preseason

Sheldon Keefe has a lot of toys at his disposal. Let's take a closer look at a few creative ideas on how he could use them.

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The New Jersey Devils play a competitive hockey game against another hockey franchise in a little more than a week. No, seriously.

Preseason offers the opportunity for coaches to experiment and find out what works and what doesn’t before the games actually count.

I would expect an even larger scale of trial and error from Sheldon Keefe as it’s his first camp working with every single player on the team.

Let’s take a look at some combinations I’d love to see tested in a game or two over a seven-game schedule.

Paul Cotter with Jack Hughes

Jack Hughes is not a faceoff specialist at the best of times and he’s coming off shoulder surgery. Given as much, the Devils may not want him taking too many draws and putting wear and tear on that shoulder – particularly in the early going (or when the results of games are entirely meaningless).

While Paul Cotter is not a true center, he does have the capabilities to take some draws. He also brings the size, net-front presence, and compete level the Devils have often liked to place alongside Jack Hughes over the past couple of years.

Once Dawson Mercer is signed, the Devils have five forwards you can comfortably pencil into the top-6 nightly.

The one hole is on the left side and the Devils are going to fill it by committee based on the opponent, the location of the game, and what elements are needed on any given night.

If Cotter can keep up with Hughes, while taking some grunt work off 86’s plate, it’d give Sheldon Keefe an Erik Haula-like option while keeping Haula in the 3C spot the Devils need him in.

Luke Hughes with Brett Pesce