Though the New Jersey Devils have raised some eyebrows, don’t be surprised if they are shutout of the NHL All-Star festivities in the Music City.
By Patrick Comia
An idea implemented into the regular season this year, it has taken to fans and kept eyes glued to the screen in what has been anything but exciting for spectators. Tiring and stressful for the players, themselves.
One thing this may affect is how the selection of players to participate in the mid-season game.
No longer is the focus mainly on which player has done the best on their respective teams, but one would think their recent regular season performance in the three-on-three overtime would also be a consideration.
How will this thinking affect the New Jersey Devils?
It may not make a difference in the minds of those selecting, in this case it would be the NHL Hockey Operations Department. Sure, the rationale could be that the NHL wants those who know hockey best to decide the worthy candidates. However, it will still be a popularity contest, placing only those names that will boost tv ratings in hopes of the game itself being relevant.
The Devils have five worthy candidates that could make travel plans next month to take part in the All-Star game. However, not all, if any, will make it make an appearance. And that would be a shame.
But, it’s only an exhibition and lends no significance.
Still, it would be an honor for these deserving Devils for their hardwork in the first half of the season.
Mike Cammalleri
This seems the most obvious choice to represent the Devils next month.
He leads all New Jersey in points produced with 31, and as well as assists. He remains behind two of his teammates for the lead in goals with 11.
His tandem on the first-line with Lee Stempniak have been the team’s most consistent scorers this season. He has been found on the Devils power play and three-on-three situations, which makes him the obvious candidate from New Jersey.
However, there remains a hint of doubts that he doesn’t get the nod from the NHL powers-that-be. One, he is not a household name like Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin. Most likely, he is not recognized by fans outside of New Jersey, Calgary, or Montreal.
He did begin his career in Los Angeles, but does anyone outside of Cammalleri and the Kings remember those seasons?
Still, he remains, and is, the obvious choice to represent New Jersey in Nashville next January. But, still waiting for the shoe to drop at his All-Star snub.
Cory Schneider
Just like his previously-mentioned teammate, Schneider remains one of the most likely choice to enjoy the Music City for All-Star weekend.
Having to play second fiddle to a good goaltender like Roberto Luongo in Vancouver and backing up legendary Devils netminder Martin Brodeur in New Jersey, the Marblehead, MA native is establishing himself as a true number one goalie, starting last season.
Despite finishing last season with a 26-31-9 record, he maintained a 2.26 GAA and a .925 save percentage.
This season, Schneider is 12-7-4 with a 2.10 GAA and a .926 save percentage, both which rank him in the top 10 of starting goalies.
So what may prevent him from booking a ticket to TN, you ask? The team he plays on. It seems that the Devils, in their locale, can’t get the national exposure that say, the New York Rangers or Islanders may receive.
It was just recently that the Devils are starting to turn heads nationally, being mentioned at the water cooler, and among the hockey experts.
Despite all that, fans may not feel it’s enough to push them into the spotlight. Unfortunately, the past few seasons in New Jersey have not been kind, missing that winning atmosphere since their last Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2012.
However, Schneider has been part of the resurgence this season, and perhaps the main reason for it.
Please NHL, if you only chose one Devils player, choose Cory.
Adam Henrique
It’s been a turnaround year for the Devils forward.
Though, he may not be selected ahead of Cammalleri and Schneider, he’s still worthy of some consideration.
Henrique is three behind his goals from last season with 13, and will most likely surpass all of his offensive numbers from last year. Along with Travis Zajac, they’ve received a rejuvenation in their game that might be credited to a new and fresh coaching system.
At the pace he is scoring at, he may well have his best offensive season in his career. According to NHL.com, Henrique could finish with 67 points, scoring 38 goals and 29 assists after this season.
Just like the rest of the Devils team, people are starting to take notice. However, it may not be enough for a selection.
Then again, Henrique doesn’t need an All-Star nod to validate his performance so far.
Kyle Palmieri
Ok, so we are getting into longshots, but not that far off.
Palmieri may not get the favorable nod, since he has to leapfrog over players like the “Great Eight” Alex Ovechkin, Max Pacioretty, and Kyle Okposo. He is behind all three in total points with 24, which ranks 45th overall in the NHL.
With that being said, he is well on his way to surpassing his career numbers in offensive production when he was with the Anaheim Ducks. Traded for two draft picks, Palmieri is enjoying life back in his home state of New Jersey. Perhaps under Bruce “Can You Hear Us” Boudreau, he struggled to find his fit on a Ducks team that was expected to contend for the Stanley Cup.
Despite all that, he has returned to an area he is all too familiar with. Growing up as a Rangers fan only to find himself on the other side of the rivalry, Palmieri is becoming everything general manager Ray Shero hoped for, and more.
John Hynes
It’s rare you see head coaches mentioned in any type of All-Star selection talk.
However, when one is brought up, that means they have been doing something right with their team.
And for Coach Hynes, that phrase “doing something right” fits him to a T.
As with all first-year head coaches taking over a team, there’s going to be growing pains. New systems, a different coaching style, and possible personality conflicts are some of factors that may cause friction in a adjustment period. Normally, it may take at least a year for players to “buy in” to what the new bench boss is selling. But, when they do, like a light switch everything clicks.
That’s what is being seen in the Devils this season. Coach Hynes left Wilkes-Barre Scranton after five successful seasons with the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, the AHL affiliate of Pittsburgh. He jumped into a hotbed of chaos in New Jersey, which has been on the down and outs three years removed from their trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2012.
He has provided stability and become a player’s coach, identifying with them while remaining assertive with his coaching to his players.
Coach Hynes is starting to garner attention that is deserving of the work he has done to turn around the fortunes and make it fun to watch Devils hockey again. General manager Shero, who was all too familiar in what Hynes was as a coach from their days in the Penguins organization, had this to say in an article written in USA Today:
“He was sending a message to the team that we are never going to give up…We are going to play until the end, and we’ve done this all season.”
And, his team has lived by that mentality this season. Even though the team started 0-4-1 and it looked like a repeat of previous season failures, something clicked which is showing on the ice, night and night out. Never count out the Devils in any game. You play a full 60 minutes, whether you are wearing the red and black or on the other side of the ice.
That’s what Coach Hynes has brought to New Jersey, and why he should be behind the bench in Nashville next month.