New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: 11/29/16

This post will recap the 8th week of Devils prospect action for the 2016-17 season. It's highlighted by Alex Kerfoot's productive week for Harvard, Colton White stepping up for the Soo, and Albany winning 3 straight thanks to performances by Miles Wood, John Quenneville, and Ken Appleby to name a few.

QMJHL

Brandon Gignac appeared twice for Shawinigan last week. Against Charlottetown on Friday he had a power play goal, -4, 2 shots, and won 7/15 faceoffs. On Sunday against Cape Breton he was a +1 with 2 shots and won 12/16 faceoffs.

OHL

Blake Speers is still recovering from wrist surgery but according to the Sault Star, he is scheduled to visit the doctor in NYC in a week. He's hoping to be playing within a week of that check-up should he get the all clear. His teammate Colton White had a busy but productive week. In 3 games last week, White added 4 assists (3 at even strength, 1 on the power play), a +3 rating, 2 PIM, and 8 shots.

Mississauga had 2 games last week. Michael McLeod finished with a goal, assist, -2, 4 PIM, 10 shots, and won 31/50 faceoffs. Nathan Bastian finished with an assist, -3, 4 PIM, 3 shots, and won 2/3 faceoffs.

Evan Cormier was able to have a lighter workload last week, starting a game against Kitchener on Saturday that Saginaw lost. He made 23 saves on 27 shots.

WHL

Colby Sissons had a busy week appearing in 4 games for Swift Current. He finished the week with a power play assist, even rating, and 6 PIM. That assist snapped a 5 game streak without a point.

NCAA

Alex Kerfoot enjoyed a productive week for Harvard, appearing in 2 games with a goal, 4 assists, +4, 3 shots, and won 8/26 faceoffs.

JD Dudek had a hat trick against Connecticut last Tuesday, finishing that game a +2 with 7 shots. On Sunday against Minneosta, which happened to be Mike Mottau's jersey retirement, he was a -1 with 2 PIM and 4 shots.

Brett Seney had an even rating, shot, and was 0/1 in the faceoff circle in Merrimack's only game of the week against Providence. On Thanksgiving SBN College Hockey discussed what the Hockey East coaches are thankful for. Here's some of what Jeff Cox had to say on Seney:

Dennehy must be thankful for junior Brett Seney. The New Jersey Devils prospect is the best offensive threat the Warriors have. His speed and puck skills can change a game in an instant.

Seney will have to lead the way if Merrimack is going to rebound from its slow start to finish in a spot where it will get home ice for the first round.

Joey Anderson and Minnesota Duluth had last week off from game action. Chris Dilks of SBN College Hockey took a look at what the Team USA roster may be for the upcoming WJC. Here's some of what he had to say about Anderson:

The last lock I have on my roster is the perpetually underrated Joey Anderson(Minnesota Duluth), who is off to a great start to his freshman season with the Bulldogs. Anderson maybe isn’t the most exciting player, but he’s going to make whoever he is on a line with look better because he’s great at getting the puck to skill players and letting them work, and he capitalizes on opportunities when he gets them.

Jeremy Davies had an even rating, shot, and 3 blocks in Northeastern's game against Minnesota last weekend.

Europe

Yegor Rykov returned to SKA's line up last week, appearing in 2 games with a +1 rating, 2 PIM, a shot, and a block. He averaged 9:47 in his first game back and then 13:28 in the next game.

Mikhail Maltsev was a +1 with a shot, and won 6/10 faceoffs while averaging about 10 minutes per game in 2 games for SKA-Neva in VHL action.

Jesper Bratt appeared in 3 games for AIK last week. Against Almtuna IS on Wedensday he was held off the scoresheet despite playing 17:00, finishing with a -2 and 2 shots. On Saturday against Mora IK he was again held without a point and finished a -1 in 11:24. Yesterday he had 2 assists, a +1 rating, and played 14:39 against Vita Hasten.

AHL

Albany won all 3 of their games last week and are now 1st in the North Division with 24 points after 18 games. Their all situation PDO is currently 100.18%. They currently have a Shots For% of 51.00%. The PP is currently operating at 17.65% which is 16th in the league, while the PK is at 86.05% which is 6th in the league.

Injury Update: Carter Camper (upper body), Steve Santini (upper body), and Scott Wedgewood (shoulder) remain sidelined.

Transactions: Blake Pietila was returned to Albany and Brandon Baddock was reassigned to Adirondack on 11/23. Miles Wood was recalled by New Jersey on 11/28.

Tuesday 11/22: Albany defeated Toronto 3-1. Vojtech Mozik, Blake Coleman, and Kevin Rooney had the goals. Reece Scarlett, Joe Blandisi, Miles Wood, John Quenneville, Josh Jacobs, and Karl Stollery had an assist each. Mozik and Wood had 5 shots each as the Devils outshot the Marlies 32-24. Ken Appleby made 23 saves. Albany went 1/7 on the PP and 4/4 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Friday 11/25: Albany defeated Hartford 4-3 in OT. Seth Helgeson, Kevin Rooney, and Ben Sexton had the goals in regulation while Miles Wood had the game winning goal in OT. Petr Straka, Blake Coleman, John Quenneville, Andrew MacWilliam, and Blake Pietila had an assist each. Mackenzie Blackwood made 24 saves on 27 shots as the Devils were outshot 27-26. Albany went 0/3 on the PP and 3/4 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet.

Saturday 11/26: Albany defeated Rochester 4-2. John Quenneville led the way with a goal and 2 assists. Other goal scorers were Miles Wood, Joe Blandisi, and Blake Coleman. Brian Gibbons had 2 assists followed by Petr Straka, Ben Sexton, Vojtech Mozik, and Seth Helgeson with one each. Straka led the team with 4 shots as the Devils outshot the Americans 30-21. Ken Appleby made 19 saves. Albany went 2/6 on the PP and 5/5 on the PK. Here is the gamesheet. Check out the River Rats jerseys!

Coming Up: Albany will take on Bridgeport tonight, Utica on Friday and Saturday, and Binghamton on Sunday.

ECHL

Brandon Baddock made a single appearance for Adirondack last week but was held off the scoresheet.

Prospect of the Week

With a goal, 4 assists, +4, and 3 shots, Alex Kerfoot picks up this week's honors. The senior has shown that he's capable of playmaking without Jimmy Vesey as evidenced by his team leading 10 assists and 13 points in 9 games. He also is 3rd in the country in assists per game with 1.11, a metric that he ranked in nicely in previous seasons. Kerfoot's not physical or a defensive player but his offensive instincts, playmaking ability, and passing skills may just get him to the next level. So far it's nice to see him off to a decent start in his senior season.

ADevil of the Week

I went back and forth between Miles Wood (2 goals, 1 assist, 10 shots) and John Quenneville (1 goal, 4 assists, 5 shots) when trying to choose an ADevil of the Week. Despite Wood earning a call up to New Jersey, I'll give this week's honors to Quenneville. The young center produced well in the run of play this week with his goal and 3 of his 4 assists coming at even strength. Half of his assists were also primary. The rookie is currently tied for the lead in goals (6) and points (14) and is 2nd on the team in assists (8). While his name is certainly in the conversation for a call up, it is nice to see him getting a chance to prove himself in a large role in the AHL to start his professional career.

Your Take

What do you think of Kerfoot's season so far? What are your thoughts on Wood getting another call up and Quenneville's consistent play? Leave your comments below and thank you for reading!