THE SCOOP
The Devils play their first preseason game Sunday afternoon against the New York Islanders at Prudential Center, kicking off a preseason that will have a much different feel than in years past.
As part of the NHL’s move from an 82-game to an 84-game regular-season schedule, the preseason has been reduced from six-to-eight games to just four per team. That means the preseason will be a sprint for the Devils, with home games Sunday and Monday against the Islanders and Rangers, respectively, followed by road games Thursday at Madison Square Garden and Saturday on Long Island to wrap things up.
The shortened schedule also comes with new restrictions on how teams can use their veteran players. Players with 100 or more career NHL games can appear in a maximum of two preseason games, while teams are still required to dress at least eight qualifying veterans in each exhibition contest.
For the Devils, that leaves a small window to both prepare the NHL roster for Opening Night and evaluate the younger players competing for jobs.
That evaluation begins Sunday with a lineup that blends established NHL players with prospects and newcomers looking to make an early impression.
Up front, Connor Brown and Cody Glass will be joined by Amadeus Lombardi, who scored twice in Friday’s intrasquad scrimmage.
Lenni Hameenaho, Shane Lachance, Matyas Melovsky and Cam Squires will also get an opportunity to show what they can bring as the competition moves from the practice rink into preseason action. Riley Tufte, Colin White, Ben Steeves, Ryan Schmelzer and Xavier Parent complete the 12-man forward group.
On defense, Anton Silaev, Seamus Casey and Ethan Edwards give fans several young players to watch. Sunday provides an early test for that group alongside veteran Brenden Dillon, with Declan Chisholm and Vladislav Kolyachonok rounding out the six defensemen.
David Rittich and Jakub Malek will dress in goal for New Jersey.
