Devils Daily: Hatakka Eyes NHL; Devils Make Top NHL Center Rankings

It’s a crowded New Jersey Devils blue line heading into training camp this September. Despite the depth general manager Tom Fitzgerald added, Santeri Hatakka has his sights set on a full-time NHL role in 2024-25.

There’s certainly stiff competition for Hatakka to cut through. He’s made me a believer, however. It was just a small sample last season, but he never looked out of place and always appeared to be making the right play. There’s success in his simplicity.

Training camp will certainly be fun to watch.

Elsewhere, top center rankings revealed, two Devils make the list. Which players from the New York, New Jersey area could play in the 4 Nations Faceoff? And, Mikko Rantanen comments on a potential contract extension.

Let’s do that hockey.

Devils News

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils’ blue line went through quite the makeover this summer. However, Santeri Hatakka tells New Jersey Hockey in an exclusive interview that he’s ready for a full-time NHL role with the Devils.

The Athletic ($): The New York/New Jersey area is stacked with elite NHL talent. So which players on the Metro teams could represent their countries in the 4 Nations Faceoff?

Although the NHL Network snubbed Jesper Bratt from their top-20 winger rankings, they did not exclude Devils centers Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier from their top-20 centers.

Hischier ranks 20th overall, and Hughes ranks ninth. Regardless, both still feel too low.

Presenting the Top 20 Centers Right Now! Thoughts? 🧐#NHLTopPlayers | @NHL pic.twitter.com/r8GS5JFgp6

— NHL Network (@NHLNetwork) August 21, 2024

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NHL Trade Talk, News, & National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: On Wednesday, Mike Sullivan named his Team USA assistant coaches for the Four-Nations tournament, and they are both close Sullivan compadres.

Colorado Hockey Now: Recent reports have made it sound like the Colorado Avalanche and Mikko Rantanen might be closing in on a contract extension. That may well be the case, but if it is, the Avalanche winger isn’t spilling those beans.

Washington Hockey Now: The Washington Capitals are going to look quite different next season. Whether that different look is an upgrade or not remains to be seen. Regardless, here are three bold predictions for the Devils division rival in 2024-25.

Philly Hockey Now: After acquiring him in a March 6 NHL trade deadline deal with the Colorado Avalanche, the Philadelphia Flyers and Ryan Johansen haven’t exactly gotten along. With Tuesday’s news of Johansen’s pending contract termination, things have taken another turn for the worse.

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