NEWARK – Headed into training camp, the most glaring roster vacancy for opening night was on the right side of third pair defenseman Brenden Dillon. The top four was set, and Dillon certainly wasn’t going anywhere after his offseason contract extension, but after that it was an open race.
Matt Tennyson was thought to have an inside edge on the spot, as he’s on a one-way NHL contract earning him $625,000 this season. Still, there was nothing given to the 25-year-old, who was facing competition from Mirco Mueller and Dylan DeMelo.
In the end, coach Pete DeBoer tabbed Tennyson as the guy.