What is Wrong With These New Jersey Devils?
The New Jersey Devils got off to a magnificent start in 2018-19. A 4-0-0 start had everyone thinking that this is a bonafide playoff team, and perhaps one of the elite teams in the National Hockey League. That all went down the drain, as a 6-1 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs has them under .500 at 6-7-1. This is good for last in the Metropolitan Division and second to last in the entire Eastern Conference entering Saturday.
Their 4-0-0 was also exciting because of the teams that they defeated in the process. Their victories over the San Jose Sharks and Washington Capitals were especially nice. They looked like a team with a big line, and a good support group along with that big line.
The biggest glaring issue is the play in their own zone. This, to me, is what causes them to lose games and get blown out. They look like they don’t know what they’re doing trying to defend in their own end. The goaltenders are basically left out there to dry, and there’s not much they can do. The Devils would be okay if they just played a lot better in their own zone.
You heard John Hynes say: “they don’t have a B game”. Meaning they either play a perfect hockey game or are atrocious. In their last three losses they are being outscored 16-4, with a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh mashed in there. They need to find consistency in their entire 200 foot game, otherwise this is going to be a very disappointing season.
There is no other way to put it. The Devils have been a bad hockey team so far this year. Outside of the Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri line, offense is also hard to come by. Palmieri has 17 points, Hall has 15, and Hischier has 12. I also have liked what I’ve seen from Travis Zajac so far this season, but outside of them there needs to be more from the rest of the team.
So what is the difference between this team and last years team who kept a hot start rolling throughout the season? There are a few things to point to.
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One is the loss of Brian Gibbons, who was the Devils leading goal scorer throughout the first few months of the season. That kind of depth offensively is something every team needs.
John Moore is no longer a fixture on the Devils’ blue line, and he was a factor offensively for the team for a few years. Having that good of a skater on the blue line with the ability to jump into the play offensively is something that the Devils miss.
Jesper Bratt got off to a scorching hot start last season, and he has been missing due to injury until he made his return on Friday against the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Devils could use some offensive production from Bratt going forward.
I make it seem like the lack of offense is the issue, but for me it is really the bad play in the defensive zone, and that leads to a lack of offense. If the Devils shut down the opposition better, the offense would come naturally. When you give up those “back breaker” type goals, the offense is always going to suffer because of it. The Devils looked good against the Maple Leafs after leading 3-0 and Zajac got them back to within two. Then Andreas Johnsson scored one of those kinds of goals.
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I do believe that this can go one of two ways, the Devils could continue down this path and we can deem them a team that is just not good enough, and Jack Hughes can be a realistic possibility. Or, on the back of Taylor Hall and his line mates, they can go on a run here, and get themselves to where they want to be. There is help on the way in the coming years, and Ray Shero has never been shy about making big splashes via trade.
The Devils will close out what has been a miserable seven game road trip on Sunday November 11th, when the take on the Winnipeg Jets, then it is finally back to New Jersey.