New Jersey Devils: Paul Thompson Set to Make NHL Debut vs. Boston Bruins

The New Jersey Devils have been hit hard by injuries in recent weeks, but for one player, those injuries have opened a door for him.

In the wake of all of the recent injuries, the Devils have called up forward Paul Thompson from the Albany Devils.

Thompson will be making his NHL debut on Friday night against the Boston Bruins, as this will be a memorable moment for the 27-year-old.

“There have been lots of ups and downs, like for a lot of guys. Sometimes you get a little older and you don’t know if the call is ever going to come. So for me, hearing it was pretty great, a special feeling,” Thompson said after Friday’s morning skate to Rich Chere of NJ.com

“There has been a time when I thought maybe it wasn’t going to work out. For (an NHL debut) I’m a little bit older than the average guy. There are times you don’t know if it will ever come. It’s a mental game sometimes. To get rewarded and get an opportunity is special.”

Thompson will be starting on the third line with Jim O’Brien and Stefan Matteau, which is good for Thompson, who has played with O’Brien in the AHL.

“Jim and I have some familiarity and we’ve been building some chemistry down there. Hopefully, it can translate,” Thompson said to Chere.

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Thompson is also very familiar with the Devils’ head coach John Hynes, as he played for Hynes on the Pittsburgh Penguins’ AHL team for just over three seasons.

“He’s a great coach,” Thompson said of Hynes to Chere. “(Look at) the things he’s done here so far and the success he had at Wilkes-Barre in the American League. For myself personally, I know he made me a 10-times better player than when I first got there. Maybe I didn’t realize it at the time, but now looking back, it was probably the most crucial part of my career.”

Thompson signed with the Albany Devils last August, and despite scoring 33 goals last season, he was never called up to the NHL.

“I was down there and I was on an American League contract so I knew nothing was likely going to happen last year. It was just one of those things,” Thompson reflected. “I’m grateful for the opportunity they gave me after the year I had two years ago.”

He was signed again by the Devils this past summer, but there were no promises made that he would be getting a shot in the NHL.

“There was never anything like a guarantee or anything like that,” he said to Chere.

“I thought I had a good camp. I came in and worked hard, but there are a lot of good players in this organization,” Thompson reflected. “So wherever you fall you fall. You try to do your best in whatever situation you’re in.”

Hynes obviously believes in Thompson and knows what to expect from his former player, as he will be filling in at forward until the Devils can get healthy.

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“With Paul Thompson, he’s been in the organization for a while. He has a lot of experience. He’s a gritty player,” Hynes said to Chere. “Both of those players, O’Brien, and Thompson play with some grit. Thompson is deserving of his first NHL game and we’re hoping he brings some of his speed and some of his offensive components, but also be a difficult player to play against.”

“The first person I told was my wife. That was nice for the both of us. It was something we’ve been going through the last 3-4 years,” Thompson said. “Calling my parents was obviously very exciting and a little emotional at times just because they’ve been through so much with me as well. I’d say the excitement is at an all-time high.”

Thompson has been a great goal scorer in the AHL for the Devils, and hopefully for the 27-year-old, he can find the back of the net on Friday night and make his NHL debut a truly memorable one.