New Jersey Devils: 3 Changes To Save The Season
The New Jersey Devils lost to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night, another unacceptable loss. How can the Devils officially turn it around and save this season?
The New Jersey Devils lost another game to one of the bottom feeders of the NHL Standings. After unacceptable losses to the Blue Jackets, Ducks, and Sharks, the Devils added a loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. The Devils offense fell off completely, scoring two goals on a double minor power play, then none the rest of the night.
The Devils currently sit in seventh place in the Metropolitan Division. If the Devils beat the lowly Canadiens, the Devils would have been in fourth place in the Metro. This division is too close to call. The Devils shouldn't panic yet. However, it's not just their place in the standings that is worrisome. The way the Devils are playing isn't going to get them anywhere this season.
The is plenty of time to get into the playoff race. They are also a few losses away from being far behind. The Red Wings are red hot. The Maple Leafs are going to make the playoffs. It's hard to say Tampa will miss. That leaves just three spots for the Metropolitan Division. The Flyers, Hurricanes, and Rangers are all at least six points ahead.
So, it would make sense for the Devils to do something right now to flip this season on its head. Here are a few options to make this season go a little better.
1. Get a goalie
This one is obvious. Even with Nico Daws playing the way he's been playing, the Devils statistically are one of the worst teams in terms of goaltending. Vitek Vanecek is still giving up too many soft goals. Akira Schmid hasn't been very good since his demotion to the AHL. If the answer is Daws, then great. He's only 23 years old, and he is coming off major hip surgery. He can't play every game.
The Devils need to add a goalie. They need a tandem. Just about every great team has two goalies. The Rangers have Jonathan Quick and Igor Shesterkin. The Winnipeg Jets have Connor Hellebuyck and Laurent Brossoit both playing well. So, if the Devils add someone to Nico Daws as a tandem, this could drive the Devils while the team gets healthy.
There are plenty of options. Our favorite for now is the Calgary Flames' Jacob Markstrom, but there are other options that could make great for a tandem.
2. A Change In Philosophy
Anyone who's watched this team play knows there is an issue with how it handles the puck. The cross-ice passes in the defensive zone are insane. The way they try to enter the offensive zone, then make a pass to a player on the boards that's at a dead stop so the play can develop. Other teams know this and attack the player with the puck. The one that needs an immediate change is sitting in the defensive zone, asking the player with the puck to sit there and wait so a change can be made or a breakout to develop. How many times has that backfired, and a turnover happens in the most mind-boggling way?
The Devils are making the same mistake over and over. One has to attribute this to coaching/philosophy. We didn't even mention how often there are two or three players behind the red line when a goal is scored. The same mistake is leading to goals over and over again. The coaches have to change what they are doing, or someone else has to come in and do it.
This coaching staff should be able to get the players to change their mindset despite it being this late into the season. There are so many players in and out of the lineup anyway with the injuries. This gives the Devils a chance to make adjustments to what they are doing.
3. Move For A Defenseman
While goaltending is obviously not great, the defense has been pretty bad, too. On paper, it hasn't been that bad. They've allowed 380 high-danger chances at 5v5. That's middle of the pack amongst all defenses. The Rangers have allowed 400, and they are at the top of the standings. However, the Devils have allowed 63 high-danger goals, giving them the worst high-danger save percentage in the league. Obviously, that's not on Daws, who had the best HDSV% in the league prior to Wednesday night's game.
The Devils aren't just giving up any kind of high-danger chance. The chances they are giving up are extremely dangerous. They aren't just shots from the slot. They are unguarded shots from right in front of the net. There are always players who can sneak in front and get a prime chance. It doesn't even have to be on the power play. Teams can dominate in the zone.
Speaking of which, the Devils are also terrible at exiting the zone. We mentioned their weird philosophy of holding onto the puck too long until an opposing player attacks, which often leads to a turnover. They also have trouble with simple clearing attempts. Way too often the defenseman is allowed to keep the zone thanks to a weak attempt.
Adding a defensive-minded defenseman with good puck movement would change this team entirely. With Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler injured, the cap implications won't really matter. Just make the move and deal with the repercussions later.
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