Campbell Talks Devils' Trajectory, Hamilton and New Platform | PODCAST

To longtime hockey writer Ken Campbell, the blueprint of a successful rebuild has several points on the roadmap to a (potential) championship.
It starts with the beginning period - losing, getting high draft picks, acquiring young and talented players. Along with that comes a few years of struggles. After that, those young teams must play in "meaningful games from Games 70-82."
The next step is making the playoffs. Followed by a season where the club has an incredible regular season, but then gets "kicked in the pills" in the playoffs and loses to a team they shouldn't lose to. At which point the club learns how to win. Then, the team either becomes a Chicago/Pittsburgh and wins a few Stanley Cups, or a San Jose/Nashville and compete but never reach the mountain top.
"I think the Devils are in that spot right now where they have to be playing meaningful games from Games 70-82," Campbell told the Speak of the Devils podcast. "I think that will be the case.
"In that whole trajectory the Devils are about 3/8 through it now or will be this year, and then will get to the halfway point next season."

Campbell, like many other hockey prognosticators, anticipates the Devils being a much better team this year. And, of course, it all starts with the signing of defenseman Dougie Hamilton.
"It was a massive coup for the New Jersey Devils. This guy was clearly the crown jewel of free agency last summer," said Campbell, who wrote a feature piece on Hamilton for The Hockey News."As (general manager) Tom Fitzgerald said a number of times, he's weaponized his cap space to sign this guy to a long-term deal worth a lot of money.
"They really sold him on what they're trying to build there and the way they're trying to do it. To have a guy like that in the fold for the next seven years, and to have a quality person and player is a coup for the New Jersey Devils."
Campbell, who writes for Substack as well as The Hockey News, sees a lot of potential in the current roster.
"Typically, elite players in the NHL tend to breakout in their third year. It seems to be a pattern that these guys follow," he said. "I think a guy like Jack Hughes is going to blossom.
"It's great to have talented young guys at the front end. The Nico Hischiers and Dawson Mercers, and that's great. But you have to get the puck up to those guys. If you don't have someone to get the puck up to those guys, their effectiveness is really, really hampered. Dougie Hamilton is one of the best at that. Every time he and Jack Hughes are on the ice at the same time, they're going to be dangerous. There is an opportunity for a big time play to be made."
Here are some other topics Ken discussed on the show:
New Jersey Devils Official Podcast
·
Ken Campbell | Speak of the Devils