There’s hope for a Cory Schneider rebound with the New Jersey Devils

While New Jersey Devils fans were granted their wish of having Cory Schneider demoted to the AHL, find out why they can expect to see No. 35 back in the NHL by season’s end.

It was a long-awaited announcement for New Jersey Devils fans and unfortunate news that goaltender Cory Schneider was probably expecting.

The team announced on Monday that the veteran masked man was officially placed on waivers.

If he clears waivers by Tuesday and no other NHL team proceeds to claim him, then Schneider will dress for the team’s AHL affiliate in the Binghamton Devils.

While most of Jersey’s fan base probably never wants to see Schneider strap on the pads again at the Prudential Center in the wonderful city of Newark, fans can expect to see the 33-year-old between the pipes again with the Devils.

For starters, the organization not only wants what’s best for the team and its future, but for a dedicated teammate and community advocate in Schneider. It’s realistic that New Jersey won’t let Martin Brodeur’s predecessor drown in the minors without giving him another shot at the NHL level – whether that’s with New Jersey or a different NHL team.

Keep in mind that this is MacKenzie Blackwood’s first full season between the pipes at the NHL level as well.

The reality is that his sample size is still too green to tell if he can last the full grind of being a No. 1 goaltender in the league, especially on a team that doesn’t have an identity and relies on the 22-year-old to win them games too often.

Now, that’s not to say this hockey enthusiast doesn’t believe that Blackwood won’t develop into a legitimate No. 1 goaltender, but as noted above – he’s young and growing goaltenders are fragile in ways beyond our comprehension.

New Jersey understands that and will proceed with caution.

As for Schneider’s replacement, Louis Domingue seems like a suitable fit at first glance. The expectations aren’t high for the 27-year-old – he just needs to get the job done and not lose the game for the Devils, per se.

Still, the 2010 fifth round draft-pick doesn’t have a large sample size to show for either. He’s played in 122 career NHL games in five seasons while dressing for the Arizona Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Yes, he posted career-highs last season in Tampa with a 21-5-0 record, but Domingue protected the net for one of the most talented NHL teams ever assembled.

There’s still uncertainty in net for New Jersey until proven otherwise – which bodes well for a Schneider comeback.

Fans can comment all they want about Schneider, but there’s one thing no one can argue – he cares too much and is a true competitor.

He’ll see the necessary ice-time in Binghamton that No. 35 needs to help him not only regroup his confidence level but his performance in the blue paint.

Another thought is what if an NHL goaltender from a different team goes down with an injury – knock on wood, but it’s not uncommon. You just never know when a team may need a goaltender.

Sure, more times than not teams are stocked up and entail depth at the goaltender position throughout the organization, but the Devils haven’t been over the years – so another team probably isn’t either.

Now, Schneider’s contract worth $6 million a year with a $6 million salary cap hit doesn’t help his circumstances for another team to try and acquire him – but that also doesn’t mean that the Devils wouldn’t be willing to eat up some of his salary at this point, either.

Or, perhaps Domingue steps in and exceeds expectations, then New Jersey may have an option to move him at the deadline and receive a mid-to-late round draft pick; why not?

The Devils are in need of a good ol’ comeback themselves as it is, and perhaps some of that motivation starts in the minors with Schneider’s journey back to the NHL this season.