Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports activities
That is the most recent file in THN.com’s ongoing breakdowns of every of the 32 NHL groups. On this file, we study the state of the New Jersey Devils.
2021-22 document: 27-46-9
End In The Metropolitan Division: seventh
Out there wage cap house (per CapFriendly.com): $9.5 million
Restricted free brokers: Jesper Boqvist, F; Jesper Bratt, F; Wooden Miles, F
Unrestricted free brokers: Subban PK, D
What New Jersey has: A bunch of latest additions, together with veteran forwards Ondrej Palat and Erik Haula, defenders John Marino and Brendan Smith, and goalkeeper Vitek Vanicek; a core of expert younger forwards in Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, Yegor Sharangovich, Jesper Boqvist and Dawson Mercer; and a top-tier blueliner in Dougie Hamilton.
What New Jersey wants: Depth in protection, and within the backside line of the forwards; extra offensive general; more than likely a brand new voice behind the bench to switch present head coach Lindy Ruff; a normal enchancment in his goalkeeper tandem; a radical change in its awful roadmap (26-11-4).
What’s sensible for New Jersey subsequent season: Expectations had been excessive for the Devils heading into the 2021-22 season, however they weren’t overwhelmed and underperformed in nearly each class, ending the yr simply two factors forward of Philadelphia for final place within the Division Meter. For no matter cause, that did not price bench boss Lindy Ruff his job, however Devils normal supervisor Tom Fitzgerald made a variety of adjustments to the workforce’s lineup, together with including former Tampa Bay Lightning sharpshooter , Ondrej Palat, touring winger Erik Haula, D-men John Marino and Brendan Smith, and former Captials netminder Vitek Vanicek. They might have beloved to have capped off the trades by signing star winger Johnny Gaudreau, however the former Calgary Flame selected to signal with Columbus as a substitute — not essentially a adverse touch upon the Devils’ state, however a disappointment.
Roster adjustments now instantly stress Ruff to provide wins and produce them instantly. In the event that they proceed to battle, Fitzgerald will virtually actually fireplace Ruff and ship a message to the locker room that the path of the franchise is now within the fingers of the gamers. However it will not be straightforward, as each Metro workforce has its sights set on a playoff spot in 2022-23. Somebody goes to be disillusioned as soon as once more, and whereas there isn’t any assure New Jersey has what it takes to get again into the postseason, they do have sufficient younger expertise to not less than contend for a playoff spot.
That stated, the Devils will want a greater purpose from their new tandem of Vitek Vanicek and the return of No. 2 Mackenzie Blackwood. Vanicek has had a pedestrian common of two.68 objectives towards in his earlier two seasons as a member of the Washington Capitals, and his restricted numbers within the playoffs have been horrible. Blackwood, in the meantime, had a sub-.900 save proportion and a 3.39 GAA final season, and whereas that may’t be attributed solely to him as a person, he must be higher this coming yr if New Jersey is to enhance as a unit. normal.
Fitzgerald has practically $10 million in salary-cap house to make trades for the season, however the Devils aren’t going to be a vacation spot level for groups trying to shed unhealthy contracts. They should present aggressive development and strike some concern into their opponents, and the one means they are going to do this is to be led by their burgeoning younger forwards and key veterans, together with Palat and D-man Dougie Hamilton.
New Jersey virtually actually will not be as horrible as final season, however the truth that they completed 37 factors out of final place within the playoffs on the Metro ought to make it clear how far they should go earlier than they return to the postseason. solely changing into one of many Cup favourites.