Because the New Jersey Devils put together in Prague to tackle the Buffalo Sabres and acquainted foe Lindy Ruff within the International Collection, it is a wonderful time to attach with our readers and reply the questions on their minds. The primary week is shaping as much as be a revenge tour of kinds because the Devils conflict with former coach Ruff in back-to-backs in Prague on Friday and Saturday after which return dwelling the place new head coach Sheldon Keefe takes on his former membership, the Toronto Maple Leafs, within the workforce’s dwelling opener on Thursday night time.
Associated: 25 Metropolitan Division Predictions for 2024-25
What higher time to step again and reply probably the most urgent questions on Devils followers’ minds? These are all actual questions from actual Devils followers.
Might You Clarify How Ruff’s “Excessive-Stress” System Differs From Keefe’s? – @DerMando
With a New Teaching Workers in Place, What Form of Fashion Will the Devils Be Taking part in This Season? – @MrEd315
As with something with a brand new coach, time will inform. From my conversations with gamers, Keefe, former captain, and present tv host Bryce Salvador, I see that the methods are related in how they wish to play however schematically very completely different. Ruff employed a novel protection scheme in his defensive zone, generally resulting in missed coverages and assignments when everybody was not on the identical web page. This was particularly troublesome for brand spanking new acquisitions to acclimate to shortly. The crux was gamers enjoying protection based mostly on keys aside from their place.
So, for instance, you’d have wingers going beneath the objective line defensively in the event that they had been within the zone first, and different coverages which might be completely different than the standard means in-zone protection are taught all through a lot of hockey. Two seasons in the past, the system labored flawlessly when it was deployed with a gaggle of veteran defenders who had been within the system and a goalie who cleaned up errors. Final season, there have been far too many tactical breakdowns, and the goalies did not erase errors.
Keefe makes use of a extra conventional construction. In talking with Bryce earlier in camp, he indicated that it’s just like how most groups scheme their protection. He additionally mentioned that Keefe’s plan would enable chosen forwards permission to look to counter shortly when explicit appears come up. There was a variety of emphasis in camp on killing performs early within the zone and instantly turning to transition. Generally, this aggression will result in breakdowns and high-danger alternatives, so the workforce focused Jacob Markstrom, who led the league most of final season in high-danger save proportion (HDSV%). Keefe has additionally mentioned he’s implementing a three-zone forecheck, which was new to this group of gamers. After the primary preseason recreation, he praised the workforce for choosing it up so shortly. He has professed to wish to use a high-pressure system in all three zones and won’t concede ice.
Search for the forwards to be extra aggressive within the impartial zone, attempting to intercept pucks and apply stress relatively than again into the defensive zone. One instance was Jesper Bratt‘s breakaway objective in opposition to the New York Islanders, the place Tomas Tatar attacked the puck service, separating him from the puck. Nico Hischier pounced on the puck and led Bratt alone on the goalie.
Some of these performs, together with being extra aggressive bodily within the impartial zone alongside the partitions, needs to be hallmarks of what’s to come back this season and how one can sense that the workforce is enjoying how Keefe desires them to play. After apply in Prague, Bratt spent a variety of time discussing how they had been engaged on sprinting. This technique would require prime conditioning from its gamers and, when achieved accurately, can be quick and pleasant hockey to observe. Whereas it might take time to implement absolutely, Keefe’s groups have ridden to success with this sort of hockey in any respect ranges and look like a very good match for the Devils’ personnel.
One other factor to recollect is that whereas the Devils have a brand new head coach and a brand new coach for the forwards in Jeremy Colliton, a lot of Ruff’s employees remained in place. “Gilly” to the gamers, Ryan McGill stays the protection coach. He was the architect of the Satan’s glorious defensive output two years in the past and the Vegas Golden Knights’ defenses for the primary few years of that franchise. The Devils additionally return goalie coach Dave Rogalski. He’s a lot maligned by the fan base for his lack of ability to get higher performances from mediocre goaltenders. Now, with Markstrom and Jake Allen, he has the 2 greatest goalies he has labored with in New Jersey and can have a chance to reveal his worth. The Devils additionally retained Chris Taylor and Sergei Brylin, who every present worth as abilities coaches and in numerous gameday roles, Taylor on the bench and Brylin because the workforce’s eye within the sky. Brylin additionally immediately connects to the Devils’ glory days and is a good instance to the gamers of what’s doable.
I Heard Somebody Is Being Inducted Into the Ring of Honor. Have You Heard Something About Who It Would possibly Be? It Would Be Stylish if the New Jersey Devils Group Honored the Three Head Coaches Who Introduced the Stanley Cup to the Backyard State. – Peter Zanelli
I contacted the Devils earlier than the date was introduced, however they’d not disclose the honoree’s identify. Final yr, they didn’t announce that Brylin can be inducted till Nov. 21. Honoring the coaches can be an acceptable gesture. One of many good issues is that there are loads of folks deserving of induction apart from these coaches, together with Lou Lamoriello, John MacLean, Doc Emrick, and Chico Resch, to call a couple of. I think about they may start so as to add these coaches to the world facade sooner relatively than later.
What Do You Consider (What Seems to Be) Their Goalie Succession Plan Over the Subsequent 5 Years and Who Is the Eventual 1A? – @timwuud
There doesn’t appear to be a plan for the following 5 years, however that’s okay. Markstrom is anticipated to be the 1A for the following two seasons. Allen serves within the backup function this season, whereas Nico Daws, Isaac Poulter, and Tyler Brennan get the chance to get a variety of reps within the minors. These three and Jakub Malek will battle to take Allen’s function subsequent season. The Devils are lucky to have many choices and the luxurious of permitting the place to work itself out. The opposite factor to take out of this offseason is that Fitzgerald made it clear that he’s unafraid to do what is critical to get a bonafide starter.
The wildcard in all that is Mikhail Yegorov. The highest-ranked North American goalie on this yr’s draft has the potential to be a steal and make an impression quickly. Fitzgerald mentioned a giant motive for the Marino commerce was to get a second-round decide to accumulate Yegorov. The 6-foot-5 netminder will ultimately be heading to Boston College and have an opportunity to hone his abilities on the highest degree of the NCAA with nice teaching below former Satan Jay Pandolfo.
“He has an enormous professional presence and has proven regular improvement all through the season. He strikes properly all through the crease and has superb construction in his recreation. He’s very robust to beat down low and in tight conditions and has an opportunity and the power to change into an excellent professional with extra improvement. He’s a high-end goalie prospect.”
Al Jensen, NHL Central Scouting on Devils Prospect Mikhail Yegorov
The Devils’ future in web is shiny. It’s not possible proper now to find out who the eventual 1A can be, however the excellent news is there are numerous choices and the Devils’ depth ought to enable them to have a participant in place as soon as Markstrom can not play 55 video games a season.
What’s the Concern-O-Meter on the Present State of the D Corps? – @timwuud
It’s too early to be involved. The excellent news is that Fitzgerald fortified the depth and has invested closely in his protection over the previous few years. That funding is bearing fruit, as Seamus Casey and Jonathan Kovacevic can be making their Devils debuts within the first recreation in opposition to Buffalo. For a workforce to lose half of its prime seven defensemen and nonetheless be capable of ice a reputable six-man unit speaks to its organizational depth.
How properly Casey and Kovacevic do these first two weeks will seemingly go a great distance towards figuring out how a lot the workforce rushes Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Santeri Hatakka again from their accidents. Taking part in with 4 right-shot defensemen is way from ultimate, nonetheless, Casey’s expertise enjoying the left aspect in faculty is a big profit to New Jersey.
At What Level Do We Begin to Fear About Meier’s Manufacturing and Blaming both the System or the Strains? I Really feel Like He Has a Historical past of Beginning Seasons Gradual and Ending Robust. – @hockeyfisch
Timo Meier must get off to a quick begin this season. As you notice, he has a penchant for beginning gradual, and the Devils have the offensive firepower to climate an early Meier hunch, however for his confidence, getting off to a quick begin is crucial. As for worrying about his manufacturing, that concern is misplaced. He has led New Jersey in targets since he was acquired. Has he scored as a lot as he or the fan base would love? In all probability not, however no person on the workforce has scored extra and that counts for one thing. He did that whereas speeding again from two MCL tears, an belly situation, and enjoying by a shoulder situation that wanted offseason surgical procedure.
Moreover coping with a number of accidents, he struggled to seek out traction in Ruff’s system. He was typically deployed quizzically, continually shifting between the highest three strains and discovering himself on the fourth line. His energy play time was additionally curtailed, and he appeared by no means to discover a constant groove. Meier performed on 16 distinct strains all through the season alongside 11 completely different linemates (minimal 10 minutes of ice time). His fortune did appear to vary when Fitzgerald fired Ruff. Meier was given extra common ice time and linemates from that date ahead and produced outcomes. He delivered 24 factors within the closing 21 video games, scoring 15 targets, greater than twice as many as another Devils participant.
Regardless of enjoying by two knee accidents, Meier nonetheless topped out within the 92nd percentile in your entire NHL for prime velocity (per NHL Edge). He averages 31 targets and 143 hits per 82 video games for his profession. Add these abilities along with his velocity, and you’ll have a tailored ahead to play within the fast-paced, high-pressure system Keefe is seeking to set up. Meier is an underrated play driver who can skate pucks out of hassle by the impartial zone, enter the offensive zone, and instantly change into a risk to attain. He’s considered one of New Jersey’s greatest forwards across the web, each as a screener and at corralling unfastened pucks and placing them dwelling earlier than the protection and goalie can react. He ought to have a chance to select up many rebound targets with a wholesome Dougie Hamilton bombing from the purpose. Meier is poised to have an enormous season.
What Are the Expectations for This Season? – @matt12r
Playoffs or bust. The first step needs to be stepping into the playoffs to avenge final season’s dreadful efficiency. After that, quite a bit will depend upon matchups and well being, however the workforce will surely not be enthusiastic about not going as deep into the playoffs as two seasons in the past. From a workforce perspective on a extra granular degree, it needs to be to complete the season within the prime 5 in energy play proportion and penalty killing, which is achievable. Ought to they discover a solution to weaponize particular groups, they are going to be difficult to play in opposition to.
Thanks to everybody who submitted questions. Benefit from the season.
