Devils News & Notes: Holtz, Power Play & More

3 years ago  /  The Hockey Writers  /  Read Time: 4 minutes 25 seconds

• It’s time for another edition of New Jersey Devils news and notes.
• This week, we’ll take a look at a struggling power play, Alexander Holtz’s debut in the AHL and another tough break to Andreas Johnsson’s season after a hard collision against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday evening. .
• Devils’ Power Play Failures.
• It’s no secret the Devils’ power play has been nothing short of terrible this season.
• The question general manager Tom Fitzgerald will have to ask himself is, are these long-term issues or are they the product of a weird, condensed season that’s seen the Devils have little to no practice time to iron out the kinks. .
• The Pittsburgh Penguins’ power play last season, Recchi’s final one overseeing it, operated at nearly a 20 percent success rate and had some of the best per 60 rates in the league in terms of expected goals and high-danger chances.
• At the same time, you could easily argue his system needs to change with the Devils.
• If not, then Fitzgerald may have to go in another direction because there’s too much risk in having the power play be this unproductive in 2021-22. .
• After plenty of anticipation, Holtz — the Devils’ top prospect — made his North American debut over the weekend after signing his entry-level deal a little over a week ago.
• That’s why the Devils were wise to bring him over to play in Binghamton’s final 10-11 games of the season rather than having him go through that transition to start 2021-22. 
• He’d probably benefit from some more time in the AHL, and with the Devils looking to try him at center, he could help Holtz in the process too

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