The New Jersey Devils need to step up in 2019-20 after missing the playoffs in a disappointing 2018-19 season. They have all of the right tools in place to become a powerhouse in the NHL. With the first overall pick in two of the last three drafts, they’ve selected two talented, smart centers. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are the cornerstones of what could be a dominant offensive team this season. Add the lethal skill of 2018 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, and things can only get better.
Off-season additions of PK Subban and Wayne Simmonds round out what could be the most underrated powerplay in the league. If Head Coach John Hynes can optimize the output of those players, the Devils should absolutely contend for a playoff spot.
Season-long scoring slump
The first area the Devils need to step up in is on offense. They had the 21st ranked powerplay in the NHL and ranked 26th in goals scored. For reference, that is 100 goals behind the President’s Trophy-winning Tampa Bay Lightning. These are both significant drops from 2017-18, where the Devils had the 10th ranked powerplay and ranked 15th in goals scored.
The main contributor to the dip in performance was the injury troubles of Taylor Hall. After a 93 point season which ended with Hall winning the Hart Trophy, a knee injury kept Hall out of the lineup for the entire second half of 2018-19. Although Hall scored at over a point per game, he only played in 33 of them, racking up 37 points. Hall’s injury was devastating, however, the rest of the team needed to give more.
Kyle Palmieri led the Devils with 50 points last year. Sophomore center Nico Hischier regressed in his point total with just 47, after a 54 point rookie campaign. Just two players scored over 20 goals, and just four had over 15. The high-end talent up front needs to put more pucks in the net this season, or the Devils likely won’t see a rise in the standings.
Who’s between the pipes?
Scoring troubles aside, one of the biggest questions for the Devils remains between the pipes. Three goalies split time in net last season. Keith Kinkaid played the bulk of that share before being dealt to Columbus at the deadline, however, he never played a single game with the Jackets. Cory Schneider and Mackenzie Blackwood are currently the top two netminders on the depth chart. This does not bode well for the Devils if recent history tells us anything.
Schneider has struggled heavily with injuries over the last two seasons and even spent time in the AHL last year. In his 26 NHL appearances last season, he posted a 6-13-4 record with a .903 save percentage. At 32, his best hockey may be behind him, but as of right now, he might be the only hope in New Jersey. The Devils need a healthy Schneider between the pipes come October.
Mackenzie Blackwood may not be quite ready to take the full starting job, however, his stats in 23 games in the NHL last season do offer some promise. The 22-year-old was 10-10-0 last season with a .918 save percentage. Splitting the role between him and Schneider could be an option and one that proved successful with a handful of teams last season, such as the New York Islanders. Although the main goal is for the Devils need to step up offensively, goaltending could make or break their season.
Signs of life
If the offseason is any indication, the Devils are already better on paper than last year. First overall pick Jack Hughes is the obvious improvement, rounding out what is one of the better top-6 forward groups in the Metro Division. The forward group will receive a boost with the addition of Wayne Simmonds, despite his disappointing end to last season in Nashville, while a younger defensive core will embrace the addition of PK Subban into the top-4.
The Devils could stack up to their top powerplay unit if they really wanted to do some damage. They could use their newfound center depth to their advantage to create one of the most dangerous top units in hockey. It could look like this:
Although fans need to exercise patience, they should be optimistic. The team is still young. They have plenty of cap space. Not to mention, they have a guy who could be a top-10 player in the league within two years. If they optimize the usage of their top players and find a way to stop a few more pucks, they will be a threat. The main challenge appears to be their goaltending, but it’s not a disaster, at least not yet. There is no reason to believe that they won’t be in or near a playoff spot late in the season.
