New Jersey Devils Stock Up/Stock Down: Training Camp Edition

Training camp and preseason hockey are underway for the New Jersey Devils, and there’s a buzz surrounding the team. The Sheldon Keefe era has begun, and after three days of practice, we got our first taste of preseason competition. Throughout the season, we will conduct a weekly stock up/stock down for players, coaches, management, and anything and everything Devils. In this first edition, we’re looking at whose stock has been on the rise during the early parts of training camp and preseason and what might have fallen.

Devils Stock Up/Stock Down

Stock Up

The Fans

Tacky, yes, but there’s no better feeling than hockey being back. It’s been five long months for Devils fans after a wildly disappointing 2023-24 season, but the page has turned to a new and exciting time for the organization. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald acquired a goalie, beefed up the defense, and added necessary forward depth — all in addition to the hiring of Sheldon Keefe. After over a decade of rebuilding, Devils fans have been waiting patiently for this team to be at the top again, and the pieces are in place to do so. Fans are champing at the bit to see the Devils play, and showed it when 10,815 showed out for the first preseason game of the year.

Haven’t seen a Devils Preseason Crowd this big in a while! You can tell how much excitement there is from the fans going into this season! pic.twitter.com/yly6v0cybx

— Justin Brady (@Justinbradyyy) September 23, 2024

Stock Down

Injury Bug

A common theme for most of last season was the Devils being ravished by the injury bug, and the start of training camp has been no different. A few weeks back, it was revealed Luke Hughes would be out six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury suffered in the offseason. At the start of training camp, it was also revealed that newly signed defenseman Brett Pesce is week-to-week as he recovers from off-season leg surgery. Another surprise absence at the start of camp was Erik Haula. Haula missed time last training camp and preseason, but Fitzgerald revealed he was out with an illness and would be back shortly. Turns out his absence wasn’t as short term as they had thought, as Haula has missed all of training camp. While none of these injuries look like they’ll stretch deep into the season, surely Sheldon Keefe will want all hands on deck to start the new season.

Updated injury report:

– Luke Hughes (shoulder, out 5-7 more weeks)
– Brett Pesce (surgery recovery, week-to-week)
– Erik Haula (sick, coming back tomorrow)
– Josh Filmon (upper body, week-to-week)

CLEARED:
– Simon Nemec (upper body)#NJDevils

— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) September 19, 2024

Stock Up

Jacob Markstrom

After years of longing for a bona fide number-one goalie, the Devils finally got their man in Jacob Markstrom. All reports have been good early in camp, but we got our first taste of in-game action against the New York Islanders. He stopped 14 of 16 shots but made a few high-danger saves — something he lauded for — and his all-around presence in net instills confidence. The first goal he’d likely want back, and the second came off of a defensive breakdown, but he was overall very solid in his Devils’ preseason debut.

Markstrom did this. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6w1Ja4DPXq

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 22, 2024

Stock Down

Dougie Hamilton

Don’t expect Dougie Hamilton to be on the “stock down” side often. But, it was fair going into his first game in nearly over a year to not expect the No.1 defenseman we’re used to in his first game action. Like most of the team against the Islanders, he started strong, but his play tapered off as the minutes wore on. While not the end-all-be-all, Hamilton and his partner, Brendan Dillon, had the lowest GameScore Impacts out of all Devils. There’s no reason to press any panic buttons after one preseason game, but something to keep an eye out the next time he suits up.

#NHL GameScore Impact Card for New Jersey Devils on 2024-09-22:#NJDevils pic.twitter.com/qTJZ8Iky0c

— HockeyStatCards (@hockeystatcards) September 23, 2024

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