The New Jersey Devils are playing as well as we’ve seen them play since their 13-game winning streak during the 2022-23 season. Honestly, they might be playing even better.
After a disappointing loss to the Carolina Hurricanes to open the season, the Devils have won six in a row. It isn’t even an easy schedule sitting in front of them. They’ve beaten both teams in the Stanley Cup Final last season (Florida and Edmonton), the Toronto Maple Leafs and Minnesota Wild on a back-to-back, a reeling Tampa Bay Lightning team, and an upstart Columbus.
The reason they are winning like this is everyone is playing their part. Jack Hughes has been an offensive superstar, taking about 14 shots per 60 minutes of 5v5 ice time, third in the league for players with at least five games played. Nico Hischier is shutting down superstars, including Kirill Kaprizov, Leon Draisaitl, and William Nylander. Dawson Mercer switches between center and wing based on what the Devils need, and Arseny Gritsyuk has been doing just about everything right.
However, we want to focus on the defense. The Devils have been suffocating on the defensive end. That’s a surprise with how many offensive defensemen are on the team, and Johnny Kovacevic is out until at least January. Still, there’s a clear focus on the defensive end of the ice.
The Devils have given up the sixth-fewest goals this season. A relentless forecheck has allowed them to do a better job holding onto leads in the third period. This is a style of play that can sustain all season.
One player who has filled a new role is Dougie Hamilton. He came into this season with questions about his fit and the seemingly impending Quinn Hughes arrival, but he’s shaken off the rumors and played incredibly well.
According to Money Puck, Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler have combined for four xG for and 5.3 xG against. It’s not the best number so far, but Hamilton is getting used to a new style, and it’s one that brings an interesting, but important, element to the defense.
Hamilton has been crushing people this season. While he only has 10 hits on the season, all of them seem to be memorable. They are clean, with his skates staying on the ice, but he is making players pay when they aren’t looking up in the neutral zone.
He’s been especially good with his hits as players enter the zone. He’s shut down some rush attempts by taking his 6’6 frame and laying it into an opponent’s chest. That reminds us of another former offensive defenseman.
In 1993-94, Scott Stevens had 78 points. He broke the Devils single-season assists record, which didn’t get surpassed until Jesper Bratt broke it last season. Then, the next season, he had 22 points in 48 games. He never broke 32 points again in a season, and more often than not, his point total was in the 20s.
Yet, nobody was saying that Stevens “fell off.” Instead, Stevens became the most feared defenseman in hockey, and he led his team to three Stanley Cups by covering the middle of the ice through intimidation. Why did Stevens do this? Scott Niedermayer was ready to take the next step as the top offensive defenseman in the league, so Stevens gave him the reigns.
Luke Hughes is ready to do the same thing, so maybe Hamilton found a role for himself that makes more sense.
Hamilton can’t hit people like Stevens did in today’s game, but he can make players think twice before racing through the neutral zone. That will add an important element to the Devils impact. If he can become a physical presence, the Devils defense will be even better.
Hamilton-Siegenthaler have had their flaws this season, but there are kinks being worked out. Their analytics are bad, but it’s mostly a few plays that involved multiple shots in front. This could work really well, with Siegenthaler playing with an insane poke check and Hamilton clearing the crease. Hamilton has to do more of that second part, adding hits around the net front to really sell the Stevens transition.
It’s a work in progress, but if he keeps working on it, this could be an X-factor for the Devils in the playoffs. Everything is coming up Millhouse.