Grading New Jersey Devils Lines After First Two Games
After week one, though only two games, the New Jersey Devils are off to a fantastic 1-0-1 start. What makes it more impressive is they came against last season’s Presidents’ Trophy winners the Boston Bruins. In those two games, head coach Lindy Ruff kept the same lines, which gives us ample time to assess them.
Line One
Sharangovich-Hughes-Palmieri
These three have shown chemistry already. Considering how Yegor Sharangovich just came over from the KHL and the low amount of time Jack Hughes spent with Kyle Palmieri last season, this is a big surprise from a line that looked like a big wildcard. Hughes has his legs under him this year and the hands are silky smooth. He already has 3 assists on the season, which is massive for his confidence. It could have been low if he had another slow start.
Sharangovich was absolutely the Devils’ best player in Game 1 besides Mackenzie Blackwood. On Saturday, he scored his first career goal. It just happened to be a breakaway overtime winner. His speed and skill look to be on par with Hughes. If he keeps this up, the Devils got an absolute steal in the draft (he went in the 5th round) and took a massive leap forward unexpectedly.
Palmieri was the quiet one on the scoresheet in comparison but added one assist on Miles Wood‘s goal. His physical play spoke volumes and his compete is as high as ever. It is very clear he wants to win every game. With another 5 hits tonight and getting into it after whistles Palmieri is showing why he was this teams best player the last few season.
Week one grade: A
Line Two
Johnsson-Zacha-Gusev
The most disappointing line by far is the Devils’ second line. They were quiet in both games. While they did not hurt defensively, there was little sustained offence and they all had a ton of issues with passing and timing. Pavel Zacha played solid on the penalty kill, but besides that there is little to say about them other than they were in the game. This line needs to step it up before the minutes are given to others. With Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt coming back soon, expect them to be split up unless they turn it around.
Week one grade: C
Line Three
Wood-Zajac-Boqvist
This line was predicted to be more of a matchup line with Travis Zajac doing a lot of heavy defensive lifting, but they had a lot of sustained pressure and momentum. Miles Wood was an absolute thorn in the other teams’ side much like Game 1. It showed that he was in their heads before the game began getting in a fight on the first shift. He managed to only take that fighting penalty but avoided taking a minor while still playing physical. The understanding of what he did wrong might have been there. This is a big chance for Wood to prove he can be a middle-six guy to a new coaching staff. Zajac played as Zajac always does, cool, calm and collected. He is still a solid bottom-six center. Jesper Boqvist looked a little more like the weak link on this line, but he is still finding his way. He does however need to be more assertive and should be trying to push the play more and take the role of sniper on this line. Wood and Zajac can both get the puck and win battles in the corner and if he can find the right spots this line could work out well for Jesper.
Week one grade: B
Line Four
Bastian-McLeod-Kuokkanen
This line had the feel preseason of an AHL line that would be on the wrong side of four goals by now while playing 10 minutes a night, but their performance has surprised fans. While still not given the highest ice time, Michael McLeod, Janne Kuokkanen, and Nathan Bastian have put maximum effort into every shift and actually managed sustained pressure and a few scoring chances. McLeod’s effort with the big squad was something he lacked last season and he was drifting aimlessly and looked like he did not care about some shifts. The question for him is why he only seems to play well with Nathan Bastian and will they be able to stick together. Bastian and Kuokkanen have both played physical and drove the net every chance they have had and are playing like they want to stay, like they want to push someone out of the lineup when Hischier and Bratt are back.
Week one grade: B+
Pairing One
Murray-Subban
Ryan Murray has been quiet, but that is a good thing out of a defenseman. P.K. Subban however has been, well, Subban. He made some terrible passes and is a sink on the powerplay again. Cross ice passes that could have cost the team the game, a bad penalty and way too many minutes. He doesn’t have the gas tank he once had, and this will not go well as the season goes on. His decision making and hockey IQ are questionable at best, so giving some more minutes to the bottom pairings would help the team a lot.
Week one grade: B-
Pairing Two
Kulikov-Severson
Dmitry Kulikov has been quiet much like Murray, but again, it is what this team needed. Not everyone can be a flashy puck rusher. He has synergized well with Damon Severson so far. Severson has also been rushing more and getting involved in the play, which is something he excelled at early in his career. This pairing could be very successful for the team if they continue to work like this together.
Week one grade: B+
Pairing Three
Smith-Tennyson
Matt Tennyson has actually surprised with his strong skating and jumping into the play. He has been tenacious on the puck and once again outplayed a young player to hold a spot moving forward by the looks of it as Will Butcher might be sitting for a while. Ty Smith has been an absolute monster moving the puck fast and crisp while making strong decisions on the puck. He put up his first goal on night one and another assist in Game 2. Smith has a good shot at being a top 4 and even top 2 defender still as he grows into a full time NHL player.
Week one grade: A- (thanks entirely to Smith)
Next. Point Prediction For Every New Jersey Devils' Player. dark
Goaltending
Mackenzie Blackwood is an absolute premier goalie in the NHL and if he was on a good team would be talked about like Carter Hart as a top10 or even 5 goalie in the NHL. Once again on game two, he shut down the other team completely at even strength only letting in a goal from the slot by Patrice Bergeron on the rush. Getting the pass and going across the net while he shot the other way, it is a tough save to make and Subban needed to actually play the pass and get on Bergeron while Palmieri made sure that Marchand could not drive the net. Blackwood might finally get the recognition he deserves this season.