Paul Cotter will play the New Jersey Devils for the first time since signing with the Vancouver Canucks, when the teams meet on Saturday in Newark.
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Paul Cotter will face his former club for the first time on Saturday when the Vancouver Canucks visit the New Jersey Devils in Newark, N.J.
Cotter has made an early impact in his debut season with Vancouver after signing from New Jersey as a free agent in the offseason. The 26-year-old leads the Canucks with four goals in five games and earned league-wide recognition after a four-game points streak.
His opening run included scoring the overtime winner against the Edmonton Oilers on opening night, which helped him earn Third Star of the Week honours on Monday. Vancouver teammate Jake DeBrusk said of Cotter: "He's got such good hands, such a good skill set," adding, "For him, whenever you come to a new team, you want to make your mark. And you know, third star of the week is a great start."
Cotter’s points streak ended in the Canucks’ 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. Vancouver, which finished last in the NHL last season, is continuing a rebuild under new general manager Ryan Johnson and new head coach Manny Malhotra, and the club suffered its second straight loss with the defeat to Carolina.
Saturday’s matchup is also part of Vancouver’s current road schedule, with the trip set to run through the East as the Canucks play the second game of their first major road trip.
For the Devils, Saturday’s game comes as New Jersey looks to snap a two-game losing skid. The Devils have not played since losing 5-3 to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday, after opening the season with a 3-2 win over Philadelphia and then dropping a 6-0 decision to the New York Islanders.
New Jersey’s offseason changes included a revamp of the front office, coaching staff and roster following the April hiring of new general manager Sunny Mehta. Mehta signed captain Nico Hischier and Russian forward Arseny Gritsyuk to new contracts, while trading Jacob Markstrom and Simon Nemec and allowing Cotter and Evgenii Dadonov to leave.
Because the Devils did not extend a qualifying offer to Cotter ahead of free agency, he signed a one-year, $2.15 million deal with Vancouver. Last season with New Jersey, Cotter recorded nine goals and 15 points in 79 games.
The Devils, who are well rested, have yet to hold a regulation lead this season and are hoping for a better start against Vancouver. Hischier said after Friday’s practice at Prudential Center: "We are putting the work in," and added, "On such a long season, you just got to come in and try to get better and try to play better as a group, as an individual, and that's what I see right now, especially in these two days here."
Hischier also addressed the challenge of getting on the scoreboard, saying: "It would help for sure," and noting, "Even if you're not scoring first, it should not bother you too much. You can't get off the grid."
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