While the rookies report to camp this week (Wednesday, September 11th to be exact) The main guys will be in New Jersey a week later. We are finally back. We are back to watching this team prepare for what hopes to be a long and very rewarding season ahead. There are a lot of new faces both behind the bench and on the ice for this team. All of that makes for some really interesting storylines to keep track of as we begin the start of the 2024-25 campaign.
1. How does Keefe's system mesh with the team?
General Manager Tom Fitzgerald got the offseason off and running by hiring Sheldon Keefe to replace now Buffalo Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff. The former Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss comes to New Jersey with a chip on his shoulder. He has plenty of regular-season success with his top guys putting up gaudy numbers. However, he failed at delivering a Stanley Cup to Toronto and only made it out of the first round of the playoffs once. There are certainly questions whether or not Keefe has learned from his mistakes and will correct them with the Devils.
The biggest thing I'm looking at with Keefe is how his system and coaching philosophy do with his new team. From a forward perspective, I'm fairly confident that Keefe will continue his success with the top guys here as he did with Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares. The bigger question will be with defense and goaltending. With regards to the back end, this will no doubt be the most talented defensive core Keefe has had at his disposal. The same can be said for goaltending as well given the new acquisition Jacob Markström arrival.
Can Keefe devise a system that will allow the Devils' defensemen to be more responsible in their own end? Will he use Markström a lot or go more of a balanced tandem with Jake Allen? Those are the two big questions I have for the new Devils' headman.