New Jersey Devils: 5 burning questions for 2018-19
By Kyle McKenna
4. Which prospects will make the team?
There’s a prime opportunity for a number of the Devils’ top prospects to crack the lineup this year, and play an integral role for the team’s potential success.
Forwards Joey Anderson, Michael McLeod and John Quenneville are three top youngsters that are on the Devils’ radar to make the big club in 2018-19. At this point in time, it’s no secret that there’s available room on the roster for New Jersey to give one of those prospects a chance at growing into an everyday skater at the NHL level.
No, all three more than likely won’t make the opening night roster, but Quenneville and Anderson more than likely have the best shot at doing so.
Joey Anderson okey dokes a Canadian D-man and feeds NCHC rival Ryan Poehling for the USA's 6th goal, Fox with another assist pic.twitter.com/MeKpZAdbYN
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) August 6, 2017
Quenneville, 22, has impressed over the past two seasons while skating for the Devils’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, and the timing appears to be right for the former first-round draft pick (2014) to see legitimate NHL playing time. There’s a chance you may even see him playing on the wing, or centering the likes of a skater such as Kyle Palmieri.
McLeod and Anderson are going to be a tossup due to the fact that both have minimal, or none, experience at the professional level. Still, Anderson appears to have that “it” factor, and having the right-handed winger play alongside Nico Hischier and company is arguably worth experimenting with sooner rather than later.
The Devils and their fanbase have waited too long to see youthful assets blossom in front of their own eyes at The Rock, and now is the time to give the new kids on the block a chance.