New Jersey Devils: Patrik Elias Would Bring A Lot To Coaching Staff

With New Jersey Devils GM Ray Shero in search of a possible head coach and possibly a whole new staff for next season, there are some interesting takeaways from the Czech home game versus Russia. What Devils fans love to see in their team is structure, determination, wisdom, and guidance. All of those things are what the Czech National team assistant coach Patrik Elias brings.

Thursday’s upset win over Russia in Ostrava, Czech Republic is how New Jersey Devils fans should feel when they face any hated rival. However, Elias’ strategy paid big dividends. From the notes taken on this game, one of the ways Elias’ teachings translated to beating Russia was a great penalty kill, and a man-to-man defensive strategy.

Another observation that looked very familiar was the 2-1-2 defensive scheme to prevent any Russian attacks from behind the Czech trapezoid. The Czechs used the 2-1-2 and switched it to a 2-2-1, finally confusing the Russian defenders on the penalty kill switching that formation to a 3-2 formation on that key power play that helped them win the game.”

Having a legendary player with the defensive and offensive structure from his international and NHL days certainly will be very useful. One of the keys that Elias probably taught his forwards and defenders was how to beat Yaroslav Askarov with low shots (Askarov is a hybrid goalie who expects to be beaten high) and create traffic in front of him.

One of the intangibles that the Devils don’t have now is a coach who would inject a dynamic structure. Like how months ago referencing The Art of War it’s not about how skilled, and talented your players are but how they are being utilized. The way Elias and the Czech players thought out the game, kept their cool, and played their game as a team creating constant havoc is key to increasing your odds of winning.

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Another thing to think about is if Elias’ controls the offense and has influence on the defense, you can see guys like Ty Smith, Kevin Bahl, and Reilly Walsh as the key defenders going forward. These kids can both run the defense and the offense. The next generation of Devils defenders looks very bright, especially in great hands of what could be a coach that once was a Devils player and forever a two-time Stanley Cup Champion.

One of the keys in the Czech win that we can apply to the Devils is puck movement. Think of how Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Nikita Gusev, and Jesper Boqvist will play when Shero gets the right coaching staff together, and then adds more players to fit a dynamic system. Mackenzie Blackwood is going through growing pains this season.

Elias would also help a lot with a multi-lingual mindset who can help be a strong and effective communicator. He knows how to deal with both Under-20 and NHL and European League-aged players. So anyone doubting Patrik Elias’ strategy as a head coach or an assistant coach would improve morale and help recreate a winning Devils culture.

With the Devils 1st-round pick likely giving them a top-five talent, and Arizona’s 1st now in Shero’s hands there’s a good chance the Devils get two really talented players.. The Devils do need a forward who has a more dynamic game than a Jesper Bratt, and more skill than Pavel Zacha. Depending on how the draft lottery goes will decide the Devils choice that could play from spots 1-5 in the draft. They need a player who can join the roster next season.

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A center depth of Hischier-Hughes-Quinton Byfield would help build the Devils center depth for a long time and build that 4 line stability for that new Devils coach to work with. However, it’ll take a few wise moves for Ray Shero to add a few young talented players who are ready to improve the depth, skill, and talent pool the Devils are working on with a coaching staff change likely to occur this offseason.

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