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New Jersey Devils Stock Up/Stock Down: Haula of a Week Edition

New Jersey Devils Stock Up/Stock Down; NHL predictions

Another week, another couple of wins as the season rolls on for the New Jersey Devils. Since the last edition of Stock Up/Stock Down, the Devils have played games against the Buffalo Sabres and the Minnesota Wild. The team’s defensive game continues to be a work in progress, but they still found a way to win both contests. They sit at 5-2-1 at the end of October and face a four-game road trip to start November.

New Jersey Devils Stock Up/Stock Down

Stock Up

Erik Haula

The difference between last year’s and this year’s start is night and day for Erik Haula. Last year, it took Haula until February to score five goals. This season it took him seven games. To start the season he is shooting at an incredible 26.3%. A number that likely isn’t sustainable for a player like Haula, but for now he is making up for a lack of scoring a year ago. Between the two contests, Haula scored three goals, two of which were the game-winners. Despite his third-line role, Haula has been one of the more dangerous players on the ice when it comes to his advanced analytics. He’s second on the team in both expected goals per 60, as well as goals per 60, and fourth on the team in points per 60. After a horrific start last season, it’s nice to see Haula start 2023-24 off hot.

Stock Down

Brendan Smith

Entering the year, Brendan Smith was ticketed for the Devil’s seventh defenceman job. However, an early injury to Colin Miller has him starting every game. The results have been poor. To make matters worse, he has the organization’s crown jewel prospect, Luke Hughes, as his partner. Smith has been on the wrong side of goals most of the season, but very poor play against Minnesota resulted in a Patrick Maroon breakaway goal. He has the second-worst Corsi % and the worst Fenwick % on the Devils. It only takes the eye test to see that Smith is much better suited as someone who can fill in in a pinch, but shouldn’t be out there game after game.

Stock Up

Michael McLeod

McLeod recorded his first assist of the season against Buffalo, but it’s his work away from the puck that has his stock up this week. Against Buffalo, McLeod centred a line with Nathan Bastian and Alexander Holtz. The trio scored the first goal of the game and consistently looked dangerous. Against Minnesota, with Nico Hischier out, McLeod was asked to centre the second line with Ondrej Palat and Jesper Bratt. The coaches have trusted him this season and he has brought effort every night. McLeod has played fast and physical and continues to be reliable in the faceoff dot. For someone who isn’t relied upon to produce offence, he continues to do the little things it takes to win.

Stock Down

Akira Schmid

Schmid was featured in last week’s edition as a stock down and finds himself back here again. It seems harsh to put him here since he didn’t play in either game, but that’s why he’s back here. The coaching staff still seems worried about him after getting shelled against the Washington Capitals last week. Typically, you’d want to show confidence in your young goaltender this early in the season, but Schmid’s poor start has worried Lindy Ruff. The Devils won’t have as many days in between games in November, so Schmid will likely be seeing much of the net coming up soon. However, for now, he’ll have to earn the coach’s trust back one game at a time.

Main Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

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