New Jersey Devils defenseman Kevin Bahl (88): (Catalina Fragoso-USA TODAY Sports)
The New Jersey Devils had avoided playing their young defenseman in the lineup this season. Players like Kevin Bahl, Michael Vukojevic, and Reilly Walsh were all kept on the AHL squad despite also playing in Newark and being an easy callup. However, P.K. Subban and Jonas Siegenthaler were both placed on COVID-19 protocols. Connor Carrick is already in the lineup, and Matt Tennyson is injured. The Devils were literally running out of bodies on the blue line.