Through the first 12 games of the season, the Devils have a 6-4-2 record, hovering right above the .500 win percentage (ignoring that losing as many games as they won is not .500). Many thought the team would start out poorly. A short camp, a new roster, and a fresh voice at the helm all led to the expectation.
Then, they surprisingly won the first five out of seven games. It brought on some unrealistic expectations for the fanbase (that were quickly dispatched).
The next few weeks would not be so kind, as the Devils have now lost in their past four games. Still, a 5-4-2 record is not that bad when compared to the circumstances. But their continuous poor play, even when fully healthy, is cause for concern.
Prior to the Anaheim game, the Devils ranked 9th in expected goals percentage according to MoneyPuck. That is quite good, but it doesn't tell the full story. For one thing, they have been mostly out-chanced against the good teams they have faced, bar Utah, and even in the games that they dominated, they have not won. Friday night's game against Detriot was a good benchmark to see if the Devils could take advantage of a weak team. They could not.
The imbalance and lackluster effort by some lines and pairs have been at the root cause of the inconsistency this season. It starts at the top with Jack Hughes. While he just under point-per-game, his general play is lacking of that elite precision and accuracy that we have become accustomed to. Both of the lines he has anchored so far have been mediocre at best. He has started to turn it around, so hopefully he finds his 2022-23 self again.
The first pairing of Brendan Dillon and Dougie Hamilton has left much to be desired. While initially assumed to be a premier 3rd pairing defender, Dillon has played minutes largely above his weight class. His aggressive and rugged style has led to missed hits and easy zone entries. This leaves Hamilton isolated and often tracking back and making "first passes," something he is not particularly good at. While great in theory, this pairing has not worked for the Devils. It is probably time they move Siegenthaler up to reunite him with Hamilton.
This leads to arguably the biggest problem with the Devils so far: Goaltending. The tandem of Markstrom and Allen have posted a combined -5.11 GSAA. They both have been below league average by some margin. Markstrom, in particular, has struggled, grading out as the six-worst goaltender in the league so far. Whether it be the fault of coaching or team defense, the Devils need much more to compete.
It has been a mixed bag in terms of results for the Devils. They are not playing to the level their talent deserves. However, with some tweaks in personnel and system, they should be able to reach their form soon.