Nico Hischier’s place in Devils history drew a fresh spotlight on a busy day around the league, as he responded to becoming the third all-time goal scorer in franchise history. That milestone sat alongside other early-season storylines for New Jersey, including JP Gambatese pushing back on some of the analytics criticism that followed the Devils’ slow start in terms of finishing their chances.
There was also a different kind of conversation around the organization’s direction when Greg Wyshynski spoke with Sunny Mehta for ESPN. Mehta challenged Wyshynski before the discussion turned into a mix of fan nostalgia and the philosophy behind building the current team.
On the ice, the Devils managed a solid showing during Frozen Frenzy, part of a league-wide night that delivered plenty of movement and history across the standings.
Elsewhere, the Red Wings got the better of the Flyers with a late third-period goal, leaving Philadelphia at 0-6-3. After the game, Rick Tocchet kept the focus on execution, saying, “I liked our start, but they came on a little bit. There are moments in a game when you have to come through, and we’ve been having a tough time of that.”
Before that matchup, Detroit honored Jenny Baumann, the wife of Red Wings trainer Russ Baumann, who died last weekend after battling cancer.
The Avalanche also made a coaching move, hiring Brett McLean as an assistant after Dave Hakstol left the Colorado bench to take over the Arizona State hockey program.
Patrick Kane reached another milestone as well, and Vasily Podkolzin’s rise continued in Edmonton. A few seasons after being seen as an outcast from Vancouver, he has become a top-line goal scorer for the Oilers this year.
David Perron, meanwhile, will get to play his 20th season after all.
Frozen Frenzy itself remains under discussion around the NHL. The league has considered it a success in the United States, while also acknowledging there’s room to improve and expand it.
Cam Neely put it this way: “It’s a great concept to have all teams play the same day, although tough for an East Coast team’s fanbase to have an 11:15 p.m. Eastern puck drop.
I heard plenty of complaints, for example, from our fans in New England. Maybe think of doing it all day on a Saturday after college football?”
In Other News...
Devils May Have Found The Lineup Fix That Changes Everything
Sheldon Keefes latest line shuffle has given the Devils a different look in recent games, and the early returns have been hard to ignore. New Jerseys offense has picked up after the changes, with Arseny Gritsyuk sliding onto a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt and looking more comfortable in the mix, while Anthony Mantha has found a productive fit alongside Evan Rodrigues.
For a team that has been searching for more consistent scoring, the timing matters as much as the results. Hughes and Bratt remain the obvious centerpieces, but the new combinations have added some balance and opened up another threat for opponents to worry about, which is exactly the sort of ripple effect the Devils were hoping to find from the adjustment. [Read more 🡒]
Dougie Hamilton Is Giving The Devils A Blue-Line Problem Theyll Welcome
Dougie Hamilton has given the Devils exactly the kind of blue-line boost they were hoping to see this season, and it has shown up in the numbers as well as the eye test. He is tied with Luke Hughes for the lead in points among New Jersey defensemen, and his all-around impact has become hard to ignore as the team leans on him more heavily in key situations.
Sheldon Keefe has responded by giving Hamilton more five-on-five ice time, a move backed by analytics that point to his strong expected goals for profile. Hamilton ranks second in the NHL in xGF at 5v5, a sign that his offense is driving play at a level few defensemen can match, even if it leaves the Devils sorting out how best to manage a blue line that suddenly has more good options than minutes. [Read more 🡒]