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Palmieri optimistic about Devils' future with Hughes, skilled prospect pool

Paul Bereswill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

New Jersey Devils veteran Kyle Palmieri is optimistic about his team's future thanks to a handful of young, dynamic players.

"I think there are a lot of reasons to be optimistic," Palmieri said, according to NJ Advance Media's Randy Miller. "We have guys that haven’t even arrived in Jersey professionally yet that show a lot of promise."

After finding themselves near the bottom of the standings this season, the Devils began to look toward the future. After parting ways with Taylor Hall, Andy Greene, Wayne Simmonds, and Blake Coleman this season, the Devils find themselves with a pool of prospects and draft picks.

The list of prospects in the Devils' system with NHL potential is lengthy. It includes defensemen Ty Smith, Kevin Bahl, and Daniil Misyul. It also includes newly acquired winger Nolan Foote, who the Devils pried away from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Coleman trade.

Palmieri is also aware of the potential of last year's No. 1 overall pick Jack Hughes, who was slotted into the lineup all season long.

"You look at the little flashes and the skill and the way he thinks and sees the game, and you can definitely see as he matures and gets used to the NHL level that he’s going to just keep getting better and better by the day," Palmieri said.

Hughes put together an underwhelming rookie campaign where he mustered up seven goals and 21 points in 61 games. Despite the lack of scoring, the 18-year-old showed immense potential as a future star in the league.

Palmieri added: "We're building and we're young, and guys are going to keep getting better year by year."

The 29-year-old forward has been a part of the Devils since the 2015-16 season. He's scored at least 24 goals in every campaign in New Jersey and is leading the Devils this season with 25 goals in 65 games. He is set to hit free agency at the end of the 2020-21 season.

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