On today’s New Jersey Devils Daily, what the numbers say about the Devils chances at making the playoffs, a look at Taylor Hall’s hometown and the Devils players recognizing one of the most famous images of the team.
Can this New Jersey Devils team really make a run at the playoffs? CJ Turtoro with All About the Jersey looks at three models from the best in hockey analytics to see where the team will land at the end of the season. Spoiler alert, nobody has us with more than a 25 percent chance of making the postseason, despite the hot start. Some of the models have trouble projecting rookies, and others may be projecting based on Cory Schneider’s starts from last season. Either way, all three models have the Devils way up from where they were preseason.
Playoff Perspective: Hockey Analysts Consider Devils a Bubble Team
Todd Correll with Hockey Buzz looks at the severe usage rate of defenseman Steve Santini. Given the context of who he’s played against, Santini has been very good. Based on the numbers I’ve seen from him, I’d rather see him with Andy Greene or Damon Severson than to see them together. He also looks at the disappointing start to the season and the one thing he needs from Marcus Johansson going forward.
On Santini’s crazy usage, Mueller’s struggles & Johansson shooting the puck
Taylor Hall takes NHL.com to his hometown of Kingston, Ontario. It’s a city that sits dead center between Toronto and Montreal. Every year, he gives back to that community, bringing some of his famous hockey friends for a tournament to benefit the local Boys and Girls Club. Hall has an interesting path to hockey. While Canadian, his dad was actually a football player and bobsledder. It was Kingston that made Hall the hockey player he is today.
Home is where the heart is for Taylor Hall
Pucks and Pitchforks jumped on the latest rumors coming out of Las Vegas. The Golden Knights gave the Russian center Vadim Shipachyov the right to seek a trade. So, could a trade to the Devils work out? There would be a lot of red tape to go through for it to be successful. It seems like it could be more work than it’s worth. Also, the Devils are in a good place. No need to put that in jeopardy.
Vadim Shipachyov Is Available; Should New Jersey Devils Make A Call?
The Devils players are finally embracing an image of the Devils not seen for years. It’s mad Devils fan David Puddy from Seinfeld. A new t-shirt with his face on it is making its rounds, and even the Devils players are wearing it. Sam Weinman with Golf Digest (Golf Digest? Sure.) talks about the viral shirt. Thanks to the internet and gifs, it remains one of the most popular depictions of Devils fans in history.
The New Jersey Devils finally get around to embracing their real mascot with these amazing t-shirts