At the New Jersey Devils morning skate on Thursday, head coach Sheldon Keefe made further adjustments to his forward group ahead of game against Ottawa Senators.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe changed his forward group ahead of the New Jersey Devils' Thursday night game against the Ottawa Senators.
Per Devils reporter Catherine Bogart, the following lines were used during the club's morning skate at Canadian Tire Centre:
Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Dawson Mercer
Paul Cotter - Jack Hughes - Jesper Bratt
Tomas Tatar - Erik Haula - Stefan Noesen
Ondrej Palat - Curtis Lazar - Nathan Bastian
After the team's morning skate, Keefe explained why he added Meier to Hischier's line.
"It gives that group a little more offensive pop," he said. "I wanted to give it some time with the look we have had through five, six games, but I think it is a good opportunity to look at something different."
Despite making his way up the lineup, Keefe does not want Cotter changing his game on Thursday when playing with Hughes and Bratt.
"If he plays differently, he won't be there very long," Keefe said. That was my conversation with him. He has shown good ability in his game, and I think those assets can help those guys.
"I think that is the greatest challenge for anybody that moves up to play with elite players is you start to complicate the game and you start to defer," he continued. "(Cotter) needs to play to his strengths, which is transporting the puck. When it is his turn to carry through the neutral zone, do so, and when it is his time to forecheck and get to the net, he's got to do so and have that be his strength and his role on the line. That is what we need from him. If he starts complicating it, then we have to rethink it."
Puck drop between the Devils and Senators is at 7:00 P.M. on MSG Networks.
Make sure you bookmark THN's New Jersey Devils site for THN's latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.
EXCLUSIVE: Q&A With MSG Networks Host & Analyst Rachel Herzog
Hischier’s Manager Patrick Fischer: 'He’s Driven to Succeed, but Not Easily Satisfied'
Seamus Casey Scores First NHL Goal In Devils Global Series Finale