Three takeaways as the New Jersey Devils head to Prague with their starting lineup
After five preseason games, the New Jersey Devils are on their way to Prague where they will start the 2024-25 season over 4,000 miles away from Newark. Here, we look at some key points from this year's preseason.
On September 22nd, the New Jersey Devils hit the ice for their first preseason matchup, losing to the New York Islanders 4-2 in front of an impressive crowd at Prudential Center. Two days later, a group of players hit the ice for a morning skate before making a quick trip up north over the border to face the Canadians at Bell Centre, where they would go on to lose 3-0.
The next day, a heavier NHL lineup featuring the respective debuts of Timo Meier, Jack Hughes, and Dawson Mercer was, unfortunately, not enough to claim victory against the Capitals of Washington. One week after hitting the ice against the islanders, the Devils will hold practice before taking a flight to Prague. In this article, we look at three takeaways from the matchups thus far, including Friday’s 5-1 loss on Long Island.
Takeaway #1: Rust is real
With no NHL game action in five months, it’s understandable for some players to experience rust at the start of a new season. The gap between this preseason and last season has evidently caught up with some players, which is completely understandable given the circumstances. Because of the Global Series, this team is being asked to hurry through its personnel decision-making process, which means players have to get going on the ice quicker than usual.
The record does not matter, but the lack of cohesiveness and broken-down coverage does matter.
No, not everyone will look like Jesper Bratt out there, like they haven’t missed a beat. These things happen, and rust is very real with new teams and returning players. This is the time to play through that rust. But it certainly is real and, hopefully, won't last too long. Fingers crossed.
Takeaway #2: Goaltending showing promise
The primary reason why there are rising expectations following this Devils team is because of their upgraded goaltending room. Jacob Markstrom is a high-level goaltender. He can eclipse his career best with this opportunity in New Jersey. He has been set up to have success in ways Cory Schneider wasn’t exactly ten years before this season. Jake Allen showed Devils fans last season that he is ready to contribute to this team positively, not negatively. This team, on paper, has been built with a defensive identity in mind, and this new identity should help contribute to the offense in a healthy fashion.
This forward group is among the best in the league, and the NHL knows it. They know what New Jersey’s players are capable of. The potential is present in every personnel group. In the same regard, the Devils' goalies have flashed their potential this preseason as well, reminding everyone what it looks like to have solid goaltending in red and black. The results have not gone New Jersey’s way this preseason. However, Jacob Markstrom’s play against both the islanders and Capitals, as well as Jake Allen’s game against an NHL-heavy lineup in Montréal, proves that. Although it's a very small sample size, there is reason to believe New Jersey’s goaltending will stand on its toes in 2024-2025.
Takeaway #3: Nothing is given, you have to take it
Through four contests, the Devils have not ended up on the winning side once. Now, cohesion and player personnel have had a lot to do with it. This team is in a pretty unique predicament in that they need to have their roster squared away one week prior to any other club besides Buffalo.
We have seen the pitfalls of an extended sabbatical for some players. Players like Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Jonas Siegenthaler came in and played their part, looking like they hadn’t taken a day off. Seamus Casey and the “meat and potatoes” line of Lazar, Cotter, and Bastian have been pleasant surprises. But, the fact of the matter is, this Devils team is dealing with a plethora of extenuating circumstances. Our own Trey Matthews brought up an excellent point on x, highlighting some key factors:
“Coming back from surgery: Jack, Meier, Hamilton, & Pesce
New guys: Noesen, Dillon, Cotter, Pesce, Tatar, & Markstrom
Injured: Luke
New coach: New system
Preseason doesn’t equal regular season success but you have to give this team some time [to] gel together”
A combination of players returning to game action for the first time in months after surgery, new arriving players, and a new coach and system has manifested itself on the ice through an 0-4 preseason record.
Is it disconcerting? Sure! Considering some of the defensive breakdowns, missed passes, and end results. It would be in the team’s best interest to clean these problems up. The players and coaches know this, and they realize time is very valuable right now. But, this team has been built to sustain itself through an 82+ game campaign. The roster has been built to withstand the ups and downs that will arrive at some point. These mistakes are inherent in hockey, and it’s better to make the mistakes we are seeing right now when it doesn’t matter, as opposed to in the coming weeks when it does. It’s a reminder to us all that as good as a team can be and as much skill a team possesses with all the expectations in the world, at the end of the day, you have to take it. Simply put, nothing is given. You have to take it.
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