3 New Jersey Devils Players Igniting a Late Surge
The New Jersey Devils are making one last push at the end of the 2023-24 regular season. These three players are sparking their late surge.
It’s an understatement to say the New Jersey Devils have been disappointing this season. They have underachieved in 2023-24 following a strong 2022-23 season. Almost everything has gone wrong this season, from injuries, to terrible goaltending, to struggling defense, to the disappearance of the power play, and more. What's puzzling is that the Devils tend to play up to the level of great teams and play down to the level of bad teams. They have been inconsistent and frustrating, and they will likely miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Despite their struggles, the Devils have hung around just below the surface of the playoff race. They seemed dead in the water for a chunk of March. But the team seems to have a renewed spark, propelling a late surge near the end of the regular season. The Devils have won four of their last five games. To make the playoffs, the Devils would have to beat out several other teams above them and below them for that spot. It's improbable, but the Devils are making one last push.
Even though they probably won’t make the playoffs, it’s still positive to see what the players are capable of and what they’ll hopefully bring to the table next season. Several players have found a different gear lately. Here are three Devils providing a spark during the last few weeks of the 2023-24 season.
1. Timo Meier
For much of the 2023-24 season, Devils fans wondered what happened to the Timo Meier the Devils traded for last season. Injuries and questionable coaching decisions kept the power forward from contributing to the team. Lately, a healthy Meier has changed the narrative. He has nine points in his last five games, with five goals and four assists. He has 17 points in his last 12 games.
Meier is contributing in multiple ways. His game has been noticeably more physical than it was earlier in the season. He has 21 hits in his last 10 games. In the Devils’ March 24 win over the New York Islanders, Meier took issue with Anders Lee’s bad hit on Nico Hischier and started a fight with the Islanders’ captain. While it isn’t ideal to have one of the team’s best players off the ice for 17 minutes, Meier made an important statement when he stood up for his captain.
Although health has been a big factor, coaching has been another. Meier struggled under Lindy Ruff’s system. Travis Green isn’t the long-term answer, but at least for now, he’s giving Meier opportunities to be the power forward he can be. It’s clear what a healthy Timo Meier can do.
2. Jake Allen
Jake Allen has been phenomenal for the Devils since being traded by the Montreal Canadiens. His numbers in Montreal weren’t great, but the way his team played in front of him made his job difficult. He held an .892 SV% and a 3.65 GAA. Now, he’s 4-2 with a .925 SV% and a 2.51 GAA in six games with the Devils. In their win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 26, he stopped 42 shots.
We were skeptical about the trade when it happened, but Allen has shown his value. He’s been reliable and consistent. The Devils trust him to make big saves, keep them in a game, and even steal a game. Allen has embraced his opportunity to come in and spark some life into this team.
Looking toward the future, Allen is under contract for next season. The Devils are aiming to acquire a top goaltender this summer. Allen has made a strong case to stay with the Devils next year as the team’s 1B. With both Akira Schmid and Nico Daws getting close to losing waiver-exempt status and showing shades of readiness to assume the role of 1B themselves, it’s likely that one of them or Allen will be included in a trade during the offseason.
3. Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes has heated up over the past month. There’s been a lot of disappointment this season, including Hughes missing 16 games due to injury. After returning from the Injured Reserve for the second time this season, Hughes’ lack of contributions, placement in the lineup at wing instead of center, and not taking face-offs left us wondering if he was still injured and playing through it. He wasn’t looking like the player who can carry the team on his back when needed. Now he looks like that star again.
The Devils are at their best when their star is firing on all cylinders. Hughes has eight points in the last five games and 14 points in the last 12 games. He has scored five goals in the past four games. Hughes is a key reason why the power play has been more successful lately. He has four power play points in the past five games.
Hughes is integral to the Devils’ core. It’s clear that this core group is capable of going far once they put everything together, and a big part of that is the chemistry Hughes has with other members of the core: Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Luke Hughes. Last season, Jack Hughes set a new franchise record for points in a single season with 99 points. If Hughes can stay healthy for a full season, he’ll be breaking more records. A healthy Hughes can produce a 100-point season. Hughes will catapult the Devils to the next level.
These three players have a lot to contribute. The Devils aren’t done with their season yet. They're playing compelling hockey in the last few weeks of the season. Is their late surge too late? If it is, looking ahead to next season and beyond, there's a lot for Devils fans to look forward to.
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