Sheldon Keefe Looking to Hold Devils Accountable After Crazy Preseason Losses

The last time the New Jersey Devils were in a major international game abroad was back in the 2018-19 Global Series, where the NJ Devils beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2 in that game in Gothenburg, Sweden, at The Scandinavium. The Devils are once again in a Global Series, taking on the Buffalo Sabres in Prague, Czechia on October 4th and 5th. This one will be taken more seriously because Coach Sheldon Keefe and his staff look to see how the team plays in the first games in the season with a lot of high expectations.

That season, the 2018-19 team went on to win the 2019 NHL Draft Lottery, bringing Jack Hughes home, and soon become our best forward in Devils franchise history. Hopefully, the Devils can go on to win a playoff spot with this roster that GM Tom Fitzgerald has added.

It is not your typical preseason where you have a few weeks to get ready for the season. On the contrary, because the New Jersey Devils will be squaring off twice in Prague against former bench boss Lindy Ruff, it will be a different feel from getting accustomed to six hours ahead and losing six hours on the way back. This will be a routine change for guys like Jacob Markstrom from Sweden, Simon Nemec from Slovakia, and Ondrej Palat from Czechia. However, most of the team of non-Euros will have to learn a few more subtle lessons from their European teammates.

Having seen pre-season reactions, fans and others are getting overzealous about losing a few meaningless games. As someone big on player evaluation, player development, drafting, and eventually roster management, you have to give things time. When a team brings in a new coach but a young well, an experienced coach like Sheldon Keefe, who has a roster that is learning his system and coaching style. Keefe likes to use a mix of eye tests and hockey analytics but makes more decisions based on player chemistry. On top of that, Sheldon Keefe likes to have a strong forechecking line, a skilled and speedy line, and a physical grind'em out sasquatch line.

He had guys like Michael Bunting in Toronto who played those gritty net presence games and wouldn't be surprised to see Nathan Bastian bounce back from the Matt Rempe hit to the head and make a big impact for the Devils.

Over the years, the mantra was always "fast attacking and supportive." Well, the new mantra under this regime should be fast, physical, supportive, responsive, and responsible. There are a lot of really good players on this club that have a lot of talent, skill, smarts, physicality, and self-motivation. Having Sheldon Keefe around most of the same assistant coaches on his bench should have a bit more accountability, but still keeping an eye on Ryan McGill on defense and Dave Rogalski as Goalie Coach. However, Jeremy Colliton, who is the assistant coach to Sheldon Keefe, has the potential to be a pretty good coach, but we certainly need to see more of him in action now that he is not under a microscope in Chicago.

Among some veteran players looking to make a name and help right the ship under Coach Sheldon Keefe is Stanley Cup forward Paul Cotter. With the loss of Michael McLeod at the center, you should know that the Devils regain a piece that is fast, physical, super physical, strong along the ice and boards, and is a big net-front presence on the ice. Yes, his teammate Nathan Bastian was out of synchronization with him and Curtis Lazar, but once Nate gets his mind and feet going in tandem on that 4th line, it will be one of the best 4th lines in the NHL from Hits, puck possession and softening opponents on defense.

To keep our expectations tampered, it would take a lot more scenarios for defenseman Seamus Casey to crack the roster. Having guys like Dillon-Hamilton, Siegenthaler-Nemec, Misyul-Pesce, and Topias Vilen, among others, will make it hard to have the former Michigan Wolverine crack the roster. A firm belief from preseason and during the season is not to rush your Grade A prospects and throw them into the NHL immediately. It is best to get guys like Seamus Casey accustomed to the AHL players before they get in against the big shooters and the sasquatches on other teams, who are looking to humble younger players like Seamus Casey more frequently.