Last season the New Jersey Devils finished just shy of a playoff spot. Outside of their terrible shootout record (0-13) the Devils were hampered by an aging goaltender who still refuses to admit that he is too old to continue playing in the NHL. To top it all off, they were 27th overall in goals scored.
This season proposes to be different for the Devils. They’ve finally committed to Cory Schneider and brought in a bona fide sniper in Mike Cammalleri.
Quick Analysis
Ever since the Devils claimed their first Stanley Cup in 1995, their game has always focused on shot suppression. At even strength the Devils were the best of the best when it came to limiting their opponents shots. In fact, they had nearly 200 fewer unblocked shot attempts against than the Los Angeles Kings. You can expect that the Devils will continue to employ this strategy (neutral zone trap), and it’ll likely make them one of the toughest opponents for the Blue Jackets next season, or any team for that matter.
Projected Lineups
Cammalleri – Zajac – Jagr
Henrique – Elias – Havlat
This is where it starts to get fuzzy. The Devils have a logjam of bottom-six talent. Included in that list are Clowe, Ryder, Zubrus, Brunner, Ruutu, Gionta, Josefson and Bernier with Ryan Carter hoping to get another contract for the next season. Plus they brought in Jordin Tootoo and Ruslan Fedotenko for a training camp tryout. You should also expect Stefan Matteau and Reid Boucher to be given a chance to crack the lineup as well.
On defense the Devils have Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, Marek Zidlicky, Eric Gelinas, Adam Larsson, Jon Merrill and Peter Harrold.
Players to watch
Adam Henrique is coming off his third season in the NHL. He scored 25 goals, riding an impressive shooting percentage that was above 18%. He was rewarded with a 5-year deal worth $4 Million per season. A player’s shooting percentage does not tend to stay that high, however Henrique has proven that he is capable of sniping at an elite level and it should be interesting to see if he is the X-factor for the Devils next season.
Cory Schneider has always been the backup to a better, more talented, older goaltender. This season he has finally been given the chance to claim the starting position. With the numbers he’s put up over his career, he’s certainly earned it, and that new deal that pays $6 Million over seven years. His performance in net will be the most important factor in getting the Devils into the postseason.
Peter Harrold is probably the most interesting player on that team going into next season (okay, not really but there is reason to watch him). Especially for the stats-focused fan. Last season the 31-year old defenseman led his team with the lowest amount of shot attempts against while he was on the ice. As well, his numbers were excellent while paired with his teammates last season. He’s usually the 7th defenseman in the rotation, but appears to be worth a shot in the starting lineup. His age could be viewed as a factor but his body hasn’t seen too much action over the years. However, age is apparently a non-factor in New Jersey. Put him on your list of fancy stats darlings. (Don’t call it a moneypuck list.)
2013-14 head-to-head matchup:
Game 1: Oct 22, 2013, Nationwide Arena: NJD (1) – CBJ (4)
Game 2: Dec 10, 2013, Nationwide Arena: NJD (4) – CBJ (5)
Game 3: Dec 27, 2013, @ Prudential Center: CBJ (2) – NJD (1) S/O
Game 4: Feb 27, 2014, @ Prudential Center: CBJ (2) – NJD (5)
2014-15 Schedule against CBJ:
Nov 1, 2014 @ Prudential Center
Feb 28, 2015 @ Nationwide Arena
Mar 6, 2015 @ Prudential Center
Mar 31,, 2015 @ Nationwide Arena
The two games in March could end up being important games for both teams if they find themselves close to each other in the standings at season’s end.
Staff Predictions
The writers here love the Devils’ chances of making the playoffs this year. After a weighted vote, the results have them finishing 4th in the division, claiming one of the wild card spots. A monstrous upgrade in goal and a slightly more potent top-6 is what we like about them. Plus, their system has always qualified them as an elite puck possession team. There are still some questions defensively, mostly centered around Adam Larsson, but their depth up front is unquestionable.
Resources
@ToddCordell is our favorite follow for all things Devils. He writes at Hockeybuzz.com, covering the Devils and the Blue Jackets. Recently, he also took over the Hockeybuzz Hot Stove column after Travis Yost departure to TSN.
@Rk_Stimp is a writer for In Lou We Trust. His work on tracking passes is really worth taking a look at.
Bonus: Sportsnet just released an Oral History of the Devils 1994-95 Stanley Cup run in five parts, and it was a very compelling read.
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