The Devils appear to have made their call on Amadeus Lombardi, and all signs point to the 23-year-old opening the regular season on New Jersey’s roster.
That would be a quick turn from the move the Devils made on June 25, when they brought Lombardi in from the Detroit Red Wings for a fourth-round pick. He had been a steady AHL scorer with the Grand Rapids Griffins, hovering near a point per game for a couple of seasons, but never quite climbed the Red Wings’ depth chart.
Since then, Devils GM Sunny Mehta has made it clear he sees more than a fringe forward. He has described Lombardi as "much more than depth" and framed the trade as a calculated bet. And based on the way New Jersey has used him in practice and preseason, that bet is trending toward an opening-night payoff.
Lombardi has spent most of his time skating on the fourth line alongside Cody Glass and Connor Brown, and he has looked comfortable in that spot. He also stood out when he was used with AHL players in preseason games. The expectation now is that he lands either as the 12th forward or, at worst, the 13th forward on October 1st, with some belief that he could eventually push into a middle-six role.
Tonight’s game against the New York Rangers adds another clue. Lombardi is slated to center the group he has been competing with for that fourth-line job, Jesper Boqvist and Stefan Noesen.
There’s a wrinkle that matters here: Boqvist and Noesen are not eligible to play in the Devils’ final preseason game once they suit up tonight, thanks to the NHL’s new preseason rules. Saturday’s game is expected to feature the full NHL lineup, which leaves Lombardi as the likely fit next to Glass and Brown. If that holds, it strongly suggests he’ll be in New Jersey’s opening-night lineup.
In Other News...
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Devils Fans Already Have A New Game-Day Frustration
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Devils Fans May Have A New Prudential Center Game Night Favorite
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NJ.com got a first taste of the additions and came away impressed, offering positive reviews and scores on several of the dishes. For a building that already leans into the full arena experience, the update adds a local-food twist and a few comfort classics that could become part of the routine for fans filing in for Devils games next season. [Read more 🡒]