The Devils today announced via a press release on their official website just who made the team out of training camp and will open the season with them on Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche.
The team will carry two goalies, eight defensemen and thirteen forwards. The press release notes that “eight of those 23 players did not play a game (for) New Jersey last season.”
As expected, Cory Schneider and Keith Kinkaid will man the crease for the Devils this year. Defensemen include captain Andy Greene, Ben Lovejoy, John Moore, Dalton Prout, Steven Santini and Damon Severson. The two newcomers on the blue line are Will Butcher and Mirco Mueller (who both had a great camp for the team).
Up front, Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, Stefan Noesen, Kyle Palmieri, Miles Wood and Pavel Zacha all return while Jesper Bratt, Blake Coleman, Brian Gibbons, Jimmy Hayes, 2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier, Marcus Johansson and Drew Stafford will make their Devils opening night debuts.
The press release also notes that the Devils have “three players designated injured, non-roster players.” These are Brian Boyle, Michael McLeod and Travis Zajac.
In addition, Joseph Blandisi, Nick Lappin, John Quenneville and defenseman Brian Strait were all assigned to the Binghamton Devils of the American Hockey League.
Again, the Devils open up the 2017-18 season at home against the Avalanche this coming Saturday, October 7. Puck drop is 2 PM with the team’s red carpet ceremony beginning at 11 AM. The first 9,000 fans in attendance will get a special 35th anniversary patch. I will be attending the game and will have a recap here on the site as soon as possible.