Paul Cotter, named one of the NHL’s Three Stars of the Week on Monday, will face his former team for the first time when the Vancouver Canucks visit the New Jersey Devils on Saturday in Newark, N.J.
Cotter is having a dream start to his first season with Vancouver, leading the Canucks with four goals in five games after they signed him from the Devils as a free agent in the offseason.
The 26-year-old American began with a four-game points streak — highlighted by scoring the overtime winner against the Edmonton Oilers on Opening Night that helped earn him league-wide Third Star honors behind New York Rangers goalie Igor Shesterkin and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Evan Bouchard.
“He’s got such good hands, such a good skill set,” said teammate Jake DeBrusk. “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 had his points streak snapped in Vancouver’s 7-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night.
Cotter was one of several players designated as expendable by the Devils as part of an offseason revamp, following the hiring of new general manager Sunny Mehta. In 79 games last season, Cotter had nine goals and 15 points for New Jersey.
Mehta was hired in April to replace Tom Fitzgerald and wasted no time restructuring the Devils’ front office, coaching staff and roster. Mehta signed captain Nico Hischier and Russian forward Arseny Gritsyuk to new contracts, but traded Jacob Markstrom and Simon Nemec while letting Cotter and Evgenii Dadonov go.
The Devils did not send Cotter a qualifying offer ahead of free agency, so he signed a one-year, $2.15 million deal with the Canucks.
The Canucks, who finished last in the NHL last season, are also rebuilding with new GM Ryan Johnson and new head coach Manny Malhotra leading the way.
The Canucks were crushed 7-2 by the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday for their second straight loss.
Saturday marks the second game of the first major road trip for the Canucks, who are hoping their six-game swing through the East builds chemistry on the ice and strengthens the bond in the dressing room.
“We have a great group,” Cotter said. “A road trip will help us. Obviously, you’re with your team 24/7 on the road and it should be good for us.”
Like the Canucks, the well-rested Devils are trying to snap a two-game losing skid.
The Devils haven’t played since losing 5-3 to the Utah Mammoth on Tuesday. New Jersey opened the season with a 3-2 win over Philadelphia before losing to the New York Islanders 6-0.
“We are putting the work in,” Hischier said after Friday’s practice at Prudential Center. “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.”
The Devils have yet to hold a lead in regulation this season, so they’re hoping for a better start against the Canucks.
“It would help for sure,” Hischier said. “Even if you’re not scoring first, it should not bother you too much. You can’t get off the grid.”