New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 11/22/16

This post will recap the 7th week of Devils prospect action for the 2016-17 season. It's highlighted by Evan Cormier's strong starts for Saginaw, Jeremy Davies standing out in NCAA action, and Joe Blandisi stepping up for Albany.

QMJHL

Brandon Gignac appeared in 2 of Shawinigan's 3 games last week. He missed the opening game of the week against Gatineau with a minor injury. On Saturday he had an even rating, 4 shots, and won 16/25 faceoffs against Baie-Comeau. The following night he had an even rating, 4 shots, and won 5/17 faceoffs.

OHL

Colton White appeared in 3 games for Sault Ste. Marie notching an assist, +3, and 1 shot.

Michael McLeod had a goal, -1, 2 PIM, 8 shots, and won 35/56 faceoffs over the course of 2 games for Mississauga. His teammate Nathan Bastian had a goal, -1, 6 shots, and won 3/8 faceoffs during that stretch.

Evan Cormier had a busy week for Saginaw, going the distance in 3 games with a 2-1 record. He lost on Wednesday to Sault Ste. Marie, surrendering 4 goals on 36 shots. On Friday he defeated Erie by stopping 33 of 36 shots. The next night he defeated Owen Sound and stopped 31 of 33 shots.

WHL

Colby Sissons played in 3 games for Swift Current last week. On Tuesday he had the assist on the game winning goal in overtime and was +2 as Swift Current defeated Red Deer. He was held off the scoresheet against Moose Jaw on Friday. The following the night he against Medicine Hat he was held off the scoresheet and missed in his shootout attempt.

NCAA

Harvard only played once last week but Alexander Kerfoot made it count by adding a goal and an assist on the power play along with 4 shots and won 9/18 faceoffs against Boston College. That was also the only game of the week for BC and fellow Devils prospect JD Dudek had an even rating, 2 shots, and lost a faceoff.

Brett Seney had 2 goals, an assist, +3, 6 PIM, and 5 shots over the course of 2 games against Wisconsin last weekeend. While his overall numbers may not stand out too much, he's leading a weak Merrimack team in assists and points while being second in goals.

Joey Anderson and Minnesota Duluth took on Nebraska Omaha twice last weekend. Over that time he had an assist, +1, 6 shots, and lost a faceoff.

Jeremy Davies had a goal, even rating, 2 PIM, 4 shots, and 5 blocks over the course of 2 games against Providence. More on him later.

Europe

Yegor Rykov didn't appear in any of SKA's 3 games last week. He had previously left the 11/13 games against Lokomotiv after playing just 2:58 so it appears he's sidelined with some injury at the moment.

Mikhail Maltsev had a productive week in VHL action, appearing in 3 games and adding 3 assists, +3, 4 PIM, 6 shots, and won 14/21 faceoffs.

Jesper Bratt had 2 assists, an even rating, 2 shots, and 12:03 in ice time on Wednesday against BIK Karlskoga. On Saturday he was held off the scoresheet against Timrå IK with an even rating, a shot, and 18:05 in ice time.

AHL

Albany went 1-2 last week and currently sit in 3rd place in the North Division with 18 points after 15 games. Their all situation PDO is currently 99.40%. They currently have a Shots For% of 50.24%. The PP is currently operating at 17.39% which is 15th in the league, while the PK is at 84.93% which is 15th in the league.

Injury Update: Carter Camper (upper body) has remained out. Joining him on the injured list last week was Steve Santini (upper body) and Scott Wedgewood (shoulder). Wedgewood underwent an MRI yesterday on the same shoulder that caused him to miss 6 weeks last season.

Transactions: Blake Pietila was recalled by New Jersey on 11/16. Ken Appleby was reassigned to Albany from Adirondack on 11/19.

Wednesday 11/16: Albany defeated Rochester 3-1. Miles Wood, Joe Blandisi, and Rod Pelley had the goals. Karl Stollery, John Quenneville, and Reece Scarlett had an assist each. Vojtech Mozik had 6 shots followed by John Quenneville with 5 as the Devils outshot the Americans 31-21. Scott Wedgewood made 20 saves. Albany went 0/6 on the PP and 4/5 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Forward Lines:

Quenneville-Gibbons-Straka

Wood-Blandisi-Sexton

Thomson-Rooney-Mandat

Gazdic-Pelley-Kujawinski

Friday 11/18: Albany lost to Binghamton 6-2. Petr Straka and Brian Gibbons had the goals for Albany. Vojtech Mozik, Miles Wood, Joe Blandisi, and Reece Scarlett had an assist each. Wood had 5 shots as the Devils outshot the Senators 30-24. Mackenzie Blackwood started and made 3 saves on 8 shots in 12:01. Scott Wedgewood made 15 saves on 16 shots in 47:37 before suffering a shoulder injury in the 3rd period. Albany went 1/6 on the PP and 7/8 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Saturday 11/19: Albany lost to Syracuse 3-2, surrending the game winning goal with 2 seconds left in regulation. Brandon Gormley and John Quenneville had the goals for the ADevils. Max Novak, Petr Straka, Joe Blandisi, and Josh Jacobs had an assist each. Straka had 4 shots as Albany outshot Syracuse 31-30. Mackenzie Blackwood made 27 saves. Albany went 2/6 on the PP and 3/3 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Coming Up: Albany will take on Toronton tonight, Hartford on Friday, and Rochester on Saturday.

ECHL

Ken Appleby stopped 24 of 25 shots in a victory over Utah on Friday.

Prospect of the Week

I feel it makes sense to highlight Jeremy Davies this week after he earned plenty of praise in this article from Jeff Cox of SBN College Hockey yesterday. Davies is off to a good start at both ends of the rink and has earned a big role as a freshman for Northeastern. Here is what his coach, Jim Madigan, had to say in the article mentioned above:

“He’s a smart offensive player. He has real good hockey sense,” explained Northeastern coach Jim Madigan. “He’s defending better. He’s defending quickly. He’s come a long way. He and [Chicago Blackhawks prospect] Ryan Shea are playing 20-22 minutes a game. For freshman defensemen, that says something about the confidence and comfort level we have in them.”

The article also features quotes from Davies about how he views his game and how he prepared for this season by working with Northeastern's strength and conditioning coaches over the summer.

ADevil of the Week

This week's honors go to Joe Blandisi after adding a goal, 2 assists, and 4 shots over the course of 3 games for Albany last week. Blandisi endured a tough start to the season where he had just 1 goal and 3 assists over the first 9 games of the season. He was even a healthy scratch at one point due to his lackluster play away from the puck. He seems to have found his game lately with 3 goals and 5 assists over his last 5 games. Hopefully this is a sign of him coming around.

Your Take

Which prospects stood out to you this week? What do you think of Davies strong start in his college career? Do you think Blandisi is turning the corner? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!