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Mixing Youth With Veterans Paying Off For Devils

(Photo by Catalina Fragoso - Double G Media)

(Photo by Catalina Fragoso – Double G Media)

 

Coming into this season another current New Jersey Devils legend, Patrik Elias, is contemplating his next steps whether it be returning to his team of 20 years or hang up his playing skates for possibly a coaching suit.  With that, Devils fans are seeing a lot of new faces mixed into fewer New Jersey mainstays.

During Tuesday nights’ game, fans saw a further fusing of the team with goals scored by newcomer Taylor Hall and franchise favorites Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique in their 4-3 win over the battling Arizona Coyotes.

One might say Hall is becoming a fast favorite with the fan base that are still looking for a leader who has the presence and ability to take the team to the postseason, which can be argued has not happened since Martin Brodeur minded the Devils crease.

New Jersey is seeing great lines that hold both old and new Devils. The second line has new Devil PA Parenteau, Travis Zajac, who is not only an assistant captain but has played all ten years of his NHL career in NJ, and NHL journeyman Mike Cammalleri who is spending his 3rd season in red and black.

Travis Zajac, right (Photo by Catalina Fragoso - Double G Media)

Travis Zajac, right (Photo by Catalina Fragoso – Double G Media)

Coach John Hynes was asked in the post-game press conference about his new team coming together and responded with a very honest answer:

“That is coming, the more and more time that you spend together the more opportunities you have to play and you can do a lot of things off the ice but a lot of things that brings teams together, you know are going to be when you get in situations where you have to compete and you have to block shots for one another and you have to sacrifice and stick up for each other and a lot of times that comes in with the games so, I feel like the new players that are here understand the culture and have done a nice job with fitting into that but then now the personalities of player and team are starting to come together and a lot of the time that is what you need particularly when you are going into games 5-20”

Hynes was also asked about rookie, Paval Zacha’s performance after seeing him play a little at the end of last season. “Not surprised at all,” the sophomore coach said without hesitation.

Another test for the Devils comes Friday night when the Chicago Blackhawks come into town with a like record of 3-3-1 to the Devils 3-3 (all three wins have been at home).  Hopefully another W will be in the cards for the Devils and their revamped team.

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Kelly is the New Jersey Devils Lead Writer and Rugby Analyst for Double G Media. She is also the site's Social Media Manager.
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