New Jersey Devils' Bizarre 2024-25 Preseason Schedule Has No Concerns – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

When I posted it on Twitter, my comment was immediately flooded with fans saying the NHL is 'wrong'. Many wondered how it was possible to leave. I would like to clear up any confusion.

No Effect on Devils

It's not possible (obviously) for any Devils players to jump on a 10-hour plane straight after a game, get no sleep at all, and play tailgate back to another continent. But that won't happen.

Almost everyone who should make the opening night schedule will be in Czechia when the puck drops in Philly. According to NHL rules, a team is only required to field eight “veterans” in a preseason game, meaning most players on the American Hockey League's roster will participate.

A common misconception is what “veteran” actually means. There is no need for someone to be ready to do the final planning. A veteran is defined as:

• A skater who played 30-plus NHL games last season
• Goaltenders who played in 30-plus NHL games last season (or who wore 50-plus)
• Anywhere a player who played 100-plus NHL games
• Current first round pick

Related: Devils May Trade Blues for Needs

As they have done in past seasons, the Devils are likely to sign a number of players with 100-plus games of NHL experience to professional tryout deals. Assuming they don't trade their draft pick, that player can count as a “veteran” as well. There's no way they're drafting a 10-year-old who makes the NHL draft a few months later.

In last preseason game against the Islanders, the Devils were able to recall a number of players from the AHL to meet their roster needs. I would expect them to do the same here. In addition, the NHL can (and likely will) issue a waiver if the Devils can't meet the eight-man requirement.

Recently, the NHL granted a waiver to Seattle Kraken forward Shane Wright at the end of last season, allowing him to be assigned to the AHL as he missed a few days. The NHL could similarly bend the rules for players like Akira Schmid, Max Willman, Santeri Hatakka, Shane Bowers, Samuel Laberge and/or Nico Daws, who played in the NHL last season but did not meet the “games played” requirement. . They can be counted as “veterans” for that game in Philly if they don't make the NHL roster and go to Czechia. There is no possible way, anywhere, that the NHL is going to let a preseason game affect the highly anticipated Global Series in Czechia.

Preseason can be difficult to plan because usually teams only play their local opponents. There are always scheduling quirks – for example, the Flyers have seven preseason contests and the Flyers have six. With so little time to get players back into game action, the preseason will never be perfect.

Rest assured, the Devils will be fine and will not be affected by this organized competition. Their preseason opener is now just 97 days away, when they face the Islanders on September 22, 2024, at the Prudential Center. And while we're at it, remember: preseason results should always be taken with a grain of salt. The Devils had a perfect record of 7-0-0 before last season but finished below NHL-.500 in the regular season.