Tomas Tatar has earned his roster spot

The veteran winger entered training camp with a lot to prove following a down year with the New Jersey Devils.

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey, and everything else, with our writers and subscribers.

---

By Alex Chauvancy (@AlexC_THW)

Tomáš Tatar's place with the New Jersey Devils entered the new year with some uncertainty following a down season in 2021-22.

After adding Ondrej Palát and Erik Haula during the off-season – and prospects like Fabian Zetterlund and Alexander Holtz pushing for roster spots – Tatar would have to earn his place with the 2022-23 squad. 

While it is only the preseason, Tatar has answered the bell. He’s been one of the Devils' best forwards during exhibition games and should rightfully be on the 2022-23 roster.

Let's look at why that's the case. 

Tatar's impressive preseason

When the Devils signed Tatar to a two-year contract worth $4.5 million per year, the hope was that he could contribute in their top-six. He averaged 62 points per 82 games in his three seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, so it was a reasonable expectation.  

Unfortunately, that's not how things played out for Tatar in his first season with the Devils. His on-ice metrics at five-on-five weren't awful; he finished with a Corsi for percentage (CF%) of 52.28 percent and an expected goals percentage (xG%) of 51.04 percent.

But he only totaled 15 goals and 30 points in 76 games, and his impacts declined significantly from where they were with the Canadiens: 

With that said, there were reasons to believe a bounce-back was possible for Tatar in 2022-23, even with his struggles. His microstats were still solid, and his on-ice shooting percentage of 6.8% was the third-lowest among Devils skaters with at least 150 minutes at five-on-five. 

Although it's only the preseason, the signs of a Tatar bounce-back season are there. Through three exhibition games, he's been one of the Devils' best players at five-on-five: 

• 3 goals (all strengths)

• 8 scoring chances 

• 5 high-danger chances, tied with Jesper Bratt for most on NJD

• 70.49 CF% 

• 77.17 xG%

The Devils also have a 29-9 advantage in scoring chances with Tatar on the ice at five-on-five and a 14-3 advantage in high-danger chances. All those marks put him among the top Devils skaters in the preseason. His CF% ranks third, while his xG% ranks fifth.