The New Jersey Devils are still in the thick of training camp, but a few early storylines are already coming into focus. The roster battles are real, the depth chart is crowded, and with injuries creating openings, there’s room for a couple of players to make a strong case before opening night.
One of the clearest winners so far has been Amadeus Lombardi. Acquired in June from the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth-round pick, the 23-year-old arrived with a chance to prove he was more than a low-cost swing by Sunny Mehta.
So far, that move looks sharp. Lombardi has not played in an NHL game yet, but his camp performance has put him in position to push for a spot on the Devils’ roster.
That chance got even better because of Nick Bjugstad’s absence. In Sunday’s preseason game against the Islanders, Lombardi lined up on the top line with Cody Glass and Connor Brown, and the results were hard to ignore.
Over 7:34 of 5-on-5 time, that trio held New York to zero shots on goal. The line also produced one goal, seven shot attempts, and one high-danger scoring chance.
Lombardi knows what he needs to show to stick. He said, “I’m just trying to show a little bit of everything…I want to play both ends of the rink. I want to be responsible, especially if I’m going to be in the bottom six,” said Lombardi.
Another player with a major opening in front of him is Nico Daws. He is expected to back up Jake Allen this season, with David Rittich available as extra insurance, and this could be the biggest NHL opportunity of his career.
Daws has never played more than 25 NHL games in a season across his four years with the Devils, and he has only 50 starts overall. This year, though, the path is there for a much larger workload.
The organization showed its faith in him by re-signing him to a two-year extension after Jacob Markstrom was traded to the Florida Panthers. Now comes the harder part: proving he can handle more responsibility when the games start to matter.
Daws sounds ready for it. “You’re always working to stay ready because you never know what’s going to happen, especially in the goalie position,” said Daws.
Keefe also made it clear he likes where Daws is headed. He pointed to the Allen-Daws 1A/1B setup as a chance for both goalies to improve, and on Daws specifically he said, “This is a determined guy that’s focused and ready to take his opportunity here.”
That theme carried over into the Devils’ first-day press conference with Keefe and Mehta, where the message was simple: the organization believes the roster is deeper, but the pressure now shifts to the players to deliver. Mehta said, “I do think my job is never done, as I always say, but in particular right now, it’s the players’ time…My message to them was that I believe they will. I believe in them,” said Mehta.
Mehta also emphasized the value of the depth the Devils added this offseason, and Keefe backed that up by praising the front office’s work. “It’s all very healthy, all in the name of making us a deeper hockey team that can sustain our play…These are bonafide NHLers that not only bring great skills, but there’s good people with personality that are bringing lots to our group.”
The Devils have also kept looking for ways to add talent, including Luke Evangelista, who has already fit in on a line with Timo Meier and Nico Hischier. Mehta said that approach is part of the job.
“The goal for me is to constantly be in search of talent…That’s my job. Trying to find players anywhere and everywhere using every mechanism available to us,” commented Mehta.
With three preseason games left, the Devils still have decisions to make and openings to sort out. But Lombardi and Daws have both put themselves squarely in the conversation.
In Other News...
Devils Already Have A Tough Bottom-Six Decision To Make
The Devils used their first preseason game to lean heavily on lower-line players and prospects, a useful early look at how the bottom of the roster might shake out before the regular season arrives. With camp still offering chances to make an impression, players such as Amadeus Lombardi have already helped add some intrigue to a group that is trying to sort out fit as much as pure talent.
Stefan Noesen looks like the likeliest player to be exposed to waivers because of roster and contract considerations, while Jesper Boqvist, acquired in an offseason trade, is another name in the mix. For New Jersey, the challenge is less about finding bodies than deciding which depth pieces best match the lineup it wants to carry into the season, and the next few preseason games should make that decision even tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans May Be Rethinking Just How Risky That Markstrom Era Was
When Sunny Mehta took over the Devils, one of his first major moves was sending Jacob Markstrom to Florida in a deal that brought back Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. The trade also cleared the cap room New Jersey needed to add Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista, giving the roster a different shape up front and signaling a clear pivot in how the team wanted to build around its goalie situation.
Markstroms preseason debut with the Panthers offered an early reminder of why that decision will be watched closely in New Jersey. The Devils, meanwhile, are heading into the season with Nico Daws, Jake Allen and David Rittich in the crease, a tandem-and-a-half arrangement that leaves the position looking very different than it did when Markstrom was still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans Get An Early Look At A Much Different Lineup
After a preseason opener that offered the usual first glimpse of October hockey, the Devils are turning quickly to a much different look against the Rangers. Sheldon Keefe is rolling out a lineup far heavier on established NHL talent this time, with Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt all set to be part of the mix as New Jersey keeps building toward opening night.
The night also brings several fresh faces to Prudential Center, including Luke Evangelista, Anthony Mantha and Evan Rodrigues. Keefe pointed to Evangelistas fit on the power play, noting the value of his right-handed shot and his ability to move the puck, and this game should give Devils fans a better sense of how those additions can change the teams feel early in the preseason. [Read more 🡒]