New Jersey Devils outlook at the season's quarter mark
With 21 games played out of the 82 so far this season, the New Jersey Devils look to be progressing in the right direction. The near-term outlook has been pretty positive, and despite a few setbacks, this team has found a lot of positives in their game.
As the New Jersey Devils navigate through the heart of November, they have won two out of three games against the Florida Panthers and suffered a shutout loss against the well-rested Tampa Bay Lightning. The Devils are on the right track to continue their regular season success and secure a spot in the 2025 NHL Playoffs.
The New Jersey Devils received positive news from the league, similar to other NHL teams, regarding the potential for the salary cap to increase by 5%. So far this season, New Jersey has recorded 528 hits, 297 blocked shots, and has allowed 72 goals over 21 games. This results in a Total Score of 828, which serves as a productive measure of the 23 skaters who have participated in this Devils team.
Last year, this Devils team was not able to keep up with the toughness of other teams. However, the additions of Paul Cotter, Stefan Noesen, and Brenden Dillon have invigorated the roster. This Sheldon Keefe-coached team features numerous lean, powerful players, making it significantly more dynamic and versatile than the teams he previously coached in Toronto.
If the Devils can potentially acquire Jake DeBrusk or another veteran forward capable of contributing an edge and scoring 24 to 27 goals per season, then Sheldon Keefe will be one happy coach—one who deserves consideration for the Jack Adams Award.
Ondrej Palat, Jonathan Kovacevic, and Jack Hughes are leading the Devils in takeaways, and even Luke Hughes is demonstrating improved puck handling compared to last year. The presence of veterans like Ondrej Palat, Jonathan Kovacevic, and Brett Pesce will undoubtedly benefit the younger players and facilitate Coach Sheldon Keefe's implementation of his new system. Currently, the New Jersey Devils are on pace for 109 points, slightly exceeding my prediction of 104 points from the collaborative article featured here on Pucks & Pitchforks.
The Devils have a north of NHL .900 save percentage. The team has also seen an increase in productivity on the power play and the penalty kill. This is a much different team that has performed well above last year's expectations, and having Sheldon Keefe around has really improved not just the system but the chemistry of this New Jersey roster.
There is a positive outlook, and the Devils are in a good spot. They aren't too old or too young, but their core is starting to age. With the younger players that they have, Tom Fitzgerald might be willing to move on from the more long-term players who don't fit this organization's near- and long-term puzzle.
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