Devils defenseman Ty Smith making season debut on Saturday

The New Jersey Devils will get some reinforcement on the defensive end as second-year ’D’-man Ty Smith will make his season debut Saturday night after missing the first week and a half with an injury, per the team. A move prefaced by the waiving and subsequent assignment of Colton White to the AHL’s Utica Comets, Smith likely makes his season debut on a pairing with Damon Severson. The Devils are now at full strength on defense for the first time this season, and the new-look group that also includes Ryan Graves and Dougie Hamilton will get a real chance to shine at home against the Buffalo Sabres as the New Jersey looks to improve to 3-1-0. Smith finished seventh in Calder Trophy voting last season, finishing with two goals and 21 assists in 48 games.

More notes in the Eastern Conference:

• Per The Athletic’s Marc-Antoine Godin, Canadiens defense prospect Mattias Norlinder will resume skating this week after missing the beginning of the 2021-22 season. Even though he’s loaned to Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League this season, the Habs prospect had a strong camp, and this season is an important one in his development. A third-round pick of the squad in 2019, Norlinder had a respectable 10 points in 37 games last season in Sweden and looks to continue his growth on a defense core that also includes the Detroit Red Wings’ Simon Edvinsson and former NHLer Christian Folin.
• Netminder Nico Daws is making his NHL debut Saturday night for the Devils, the team announced this morning. With Mackenzie Blackwood still on injured reserve and Jonathan Bernier still day-to-day with a lower-body injury, a tandem of Daws and Scott Wedgewood will have to do it for now in Jersey. Wedgewood allowed four goals in a loss to the Washington Capitals on Thursday, so the Devils will give Daws a chance to show what he can do. The 20-year-old was drafted 84th overall in 2020.