New Jersey Devils
Nichols: Stale Devils Need a Change, Fitzgerald & Keefe Shan’t Wait Any Longer
Sheldon Keefe & Tom Fitzgerald can’t wait. The New Jersey Devils need changes, and there are a few ways that he can make it happen.

NEWARK—Things are getting stale in Newark. The New Jersey Devils have now dropped four games in a row and five of their last six contests. Although they’ve done a decent job of collecting loser points along the way, they need a change to get back to where they were before Christmas, and it’s time coach Sheldon Keefe pulled the trigger.
The Devils are 2-5-3 in their last 10 games. If you had asked anyone on Dec. 24th if the Devils would go on that kind of stretch, you probably garner a good belly laugh.
However, that’s the current reality. The Devils are lacking chemistry right now, and they know they’re in a lull.
Leading up to Dec. 23rd, the Devils were among the best in xGF%, ranking third overall in the NHL at 55.91%. Ever since returning from the break, New Jersey’s xGF% has taken a nose dive. Currently, they rank 22nd overall at 48.69%.
The Devils’ depth scoring issues are well documented. Make no mistake, general manager Tom Fitzgerald has some work to do. However, Keefe isn’t absolved of making his own changes.
The well has dried up throughout the top-12. Scoring droughts exist up and down the lineup, and the current makeup of the Devils’ forward group is no longer getting it done.
Fortunately, the Devils banked enough points along the way, specifically in the month of December, to remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division. However, the surrounding teams have two-to-three games in hand on New Jersey, and they can fall quickly.
So what are Fitzgerald & Keefe to do with the stale Devils lineup?
Put the Devils Lines in a Blender
For the majority of the season, Keefe has focused on keeping specific pairs of players together.
Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier and Timo Meier, Erik Haula and Paul Cotter (mostly), and Curtis Lazar with Nathan Bastian—when healthy.
In his search for more offense, Keefe’s rotated the third man up and down the lineup. Stefan Noesen found a home with Hischier and Meier. As did Ondrej Palat with Hughes and Bratt. Dawson Mercer’s been the utility man once again, and Tomas Tatar has been banished to the fourth line.
It’s not working any longer, and the duos perhaps need to get comfortable away from each other.
One possible solution is to reunite Meier and Hischier with Jesper Bratt. That would keep the duo of Hischier and Meier together. However, that trio has provided some of the Devils’ best offense since the 2022-23 season, with a 57.28 xGF%.
As for the rest, Keefe will need to find the right linemates to work with Hughes. A shooter would suffice, however, that might be the one thing the Devils currently lack. Noesen has been a fun story this season, Mercer could be an option, and Cotter shows glimpses. None of them are shooters, and it’s slim pickings in terms of offense.
Move Timo Meier to Devils PP1
Timo Meier is now goalless in his last eight games. He has three assists in that span and is only second to Jack Hughes in individual Corsi with 59 chances since returning from Christmas break.
Meier has seen very little time on the man advantage, however. His minutes are half of what the players on the top unit receive, and as a result, the number of chances he can create has been limited.
Meier is the only player on the second unit power play that’s registered a high-danger chance in the last 12 games, and is on an island by himself on the second unit.
Moving him to the first unit, parking him in the right circle, and letting him shoot for volume the way he likes seems beneficial. The result should be more scoring chances for Meier overall, and it could create rebound chances for the Devils to clean up in the slot.
If Keefe elevates Meier to the first unit man advantage, the increased opportunity to score on the power play can trickle into his rhythm at even strength. More opportunities overall for the Devils’ highest-paid forward can only benefit New Jersey at this point.
Recall Simon Nemec
A decision like this would require Keefe’s input. It’s ultimately up to Fitzgerald, but there’s certainly something to the idea.
Look, Simon Nemec isn’t unhappy with the Devils’ decision to have him in the American Hockey League, despite what the recent rumors tell you.
READ: SOURCE: Devils Reaffirm Simon Nemec Future, For Now
He’s more unhappy with himself that he let the opportunity slip through his fingers at the beginning of the season.
However, Nemec has been lighting it up on the scoresheet for the Utica Comets recently. He looks like himself again, and as a result, was named as the Comets’ representative at the AHL All-Star Classic.
The former second overall selection has 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in his last 14 games. The Devils need a spark and Nemec’s desire to not only get back in the NHL, but prove his rookie season was no farce burns strong.
He could be exactly the jolt the Devils’ lineup requires, and they should do so while he’s hot.
Determining who sits in his recall would be tricky. However, Keefe could always go 11 forwards and seven defensemen if necessary.
There’s no help coming by way of forwards in Utica. But Nemec could help reignite the fire, and Keefe has even admitted the lack of depth scoring comes from the back end, too.
Turn to NHL Trade Market
The Devils have a clear position of strength to work with on the NHL trade market.
There’s an embarrassment of riches on the blueline that extends to the prospect pool, and New Jersey can afford to bring in some help via trade.
Nemec would certainly fetch a boisterous return. However, New Jersey Hockey Now has learned the appetite to trade the Slovak blueliner isn’t what everyone thinks it is. Perhaps if the right deal comes along and the Devils are acquiring one of the NHLs elites, they’d consider it. However, no one is giving away players right now. Especially in the east, where no one is really out of the playoff hunt.
The Devils could dangle a Seamus Casey on the market. Anton Silayev is certainly enticing, and with the deep blueline they have according to their relative age, the Devils can afford to at least gauge his value.
Certainly, no one has replaced Tyler Toffoli’s 35-goal pace he brought last season. In fact, the Devils lack a clear shooter who could make a difference on the power play.
The one thing they can’t do is make a panic move and spend too much on an asset that mortgages their future. The J.T. Miller‘s and Elias Pettersson’s are likely too expensive.
But could the Devils pry someone like Kyle Palmieri from their division rival?
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