Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Change Our Expectations For Blake Coleman Next Season

By Kalven Hammer

SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 6: Blake Coleman #20 of the New Jersey Devils attempts to dig the puck out from the boards against Mark Pysyk #13 of the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on April 6, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images)
SUNRISE, FL - APRIL 6: Blake Coleman #20 of the New Jersey Devils attempts to dig the puck out from the boards against Mark Pysyk #13 of the Florida Panthers at the BB&T Center on April 6, 2019 in Sunrise, Florida. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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As the 2019-2020 season draws closer, it’s inevitable that writers churn out these types of articles based on speculation and building on previous seasons. Why not add-on to this trend by talking about the New Jersey Devils’ pickle-fueled, 200-foot engine known as Blake Coleman.

Coleman had a very solid 2018-19 season despite the numerous injuries plaguing the New Jersey Devils. Playing 78 games (one of only six players to dress in over 70 games), Coleman built upon his rookie NHL season and improved tremendously. A stat line of 22 goals – 14 assists – 36 points on top of his excellent defensive play has made him extremely valuable to Ray Shero and company.

The 27 year old from Plano, Texas has endeared himself to fans of the Devils through said excellent play and little quirks like his devotion to pickle juice as a quick remedy for muscle cramps have made him a fan favorite in Newark. So with the explosive pieces added to the Devils this off-season, what should Blake Coleman’s role and outlook be for the upcoming season?’

The clear and obvious assessment should be to continue in a dominant bottom-six role, focusing on his relentlessness on the puck carrier. With how active Coleman his with his stick and feet, this should carry into the next season easily. Coleman will get looks to shut down the opposition’s top line and be and active member of the penalty kill unit; which will give him every opportunity to play to his strengths and succeed.

One might look at the 22 goals scored last season and begin to expect/hope that this should be how Coleman’s game grows. This would be a tremendous asset to have and would be a welcome sight to see for everyone in the organization. Personally, I’ve seen a number of fans pegging 20 goals to be the benchmark for Coleman next season.

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Not to put Blake Coleman’s game in a negative light, but 20 goals should be considered a welcome surprise instead of the standard. Dating back to Coleman’s freshman year at Miami University (Ohio), Coleman has scored 20 or more goals in a season twice including this past season. Scoring 20 in the NHL and NCAA are completely different feats to be fair, but it does warrant something to think about.

Coleman’s average time on ice of 17:01 is certain to take a slight downward tick with the off-season additions (namely Nikita Gusev and Jack Hughes) taking top-six minutes. A shooting percentage of 10.2% should stay around the same give or take a percentage or two. These two bits of statistics should show that 20 goals should not be Coleman’s game for next season.

Coleman’s style is an absolutely necessity for any team with Stanley Cup aspirations. If looking at this and one is still on the “Scorer’s Touch or Bust” scene, let’s take a quick comparison to another Devils legend in John Madden. The two-time Champion with the Devils was part of a legendary pair with Jay Pandolfo in a similar role as Blake Coleman. He was a rugged, 200-foot player that excelled in the penalty kill and only scored over 20 for the Devils twice in his career. If New Jersey were to go on to become another three-time Stanley Cup Champion in a span of eight years, it would be easy to call Coleman this generations Madden.

Blake Coleman has stolen the hearts of fans of the Devils with his pure energy on the ice and charm off it. Expectations are certainly high for everyone on the team heading into the 2019-20 season and Coleman is no exception. Looking at his game, it’s most likely a given that Coleman will continue to grind out hard, defensive minutes against top lines and powerplays. 20 goals would be another treat, but look to the vintage 200-foot game the pickle juice loving center as the cornerstone for the bottom six.

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