New Jersey Devils: Looking Ahead in 2019
2018 was a year of many ups and downs for the New Jersey Devils. It saw a five-year playoff drought come to an end when they clinched a berth in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. They were defeated in five games by the top seeded Tampa Bay Lightning. They saw their first ever Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall. Then this season, they started off hot with a 4-0-0 record, but things started to go south.
They did end 2018 on a three-game winning streak which finds them at 15-16-7, good for 37 points and 12th in the Eastern Conference. It could be much worse, and things could go both ways for the Devils this season. They could have a similar 2nd half to the first and be in lottery talks, or they could get on a roll and find themselves in the push for the playoffs.
So for the year as a whole, what do the New Jersey Devils need to accomplish in 2019? It begins with Taylor Hall. What does he want to do? Does he want to stay? Great, give him an eight-year deal worth a lot of money. He doesn’t want to stay? Bummer, trade him for a huge haul of picks and prospects. Either way, the New Jersey Devils need to maximize the value of the reigning Hart Trophy winner.
2019 is a huge year for Devils center Nico Hischier. He turns 20 just four days into the new year, and it is time for him to become a true star in this league. He has had such a successful first year and a half, and is clearly a huge piece of this team going forward. It is awesome seeing his offensive game develop and his two-way game gets better every single day. Look for Nico Hischier to explode on the scene even more in 2019.
Another thing the Devils would like to see in the upcoming year is improved scoring depth. Travis Zajac commented on wanting to get his old offensive game back this season, and he has done that. It is up to him to keep it going, and we would like to see Jesper Bratt, Pavel Zacha, and Miles Wood become legit secondary scorers as well. The Devils got it last season with the primary scoring of Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri but need more in 2019.
The Devils have needed an improved defense for many years now, and 2019 looks like the year that it could turn the corner. That all begins with Ty Smith. It is looking possible if not likely that the 2018 NHL Draft selection will make his NHL debut next season on opening night. It seemed like he had a chance this year before being sent to juniors right before the season started.
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It looks like he could be the type of talent to come in and make an instant impact. It could have an effect on all the players on defense if he pushes everyone else into their proper spot. If Vatanen could be pushed into a number two, and some more development from Severson and Mueller, this blue line could be better than it has been in years next season.
Goaltending? That is something that could be a question for all of 2019, or it could be answered sometime this year as well. Cory Schneider is on a big money long term contract, Keith Kinkaid is on an expiring contract, and MacKenzie Blackwood just made his NHL debut in the final weeks of 2018. The Devils need to figure it out, because as you could see in these last three games, getting good goaltending in everything in the NHL. It helps every single player on the team when there’s play in net.
Along with having a good draft, not hurting yourself in free agency, and developing young players, the Devils just need to execute. Winning is everything in the NHL and guys just need to play well for that to happen. We have seen guys on this roster perform very well. 2019 should be no exception. It would be nice to have Jack Hughes, but it would be even better for the guys they currently have developed and played well and earned themselves a spot in the playoffs.
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The calendar year will begin with Taylor Hall on injured reserve, retroactive to December 23rd (so he can return at any time), so the depth scoring that has shown it’s face in his absence needs to step up again. It begins play in the New Year on the road for four straight games, beginning at American Airlines Center when the visit the Dallas Stars. Arizona, Vegas, and then back east to Buffalo. Hopefully 2019 is a strong calendar year for the New Jersey Devils!