New Jersey Devils
Playoffs and Trades: Forecasting the Rest of the Devils Season
Forecasting the rest of the season, there are a number of factors that go into the Devils returning to their pre-holiday form.
The New Jersey Devils could have gone into the 4 Nations Face-Off break in a lot worse of a condition. They managed to get back in the win column on the last game before the pause, and alternated wins and losses in their final seven games. Make no mistake about it, the Devils certainly did not look like their pre-holiday selves in January and early portions of February. The current break from NHL games for the international tournament couldn’t have come at a better time.
Watching the best-on-best play has certainly been refreshing. It’s also been great to watch the four teams prove the critics wrong with the intensity of play.
And although we’re only two days into the tournament, it’s a quick turnaround, and NHL games will resume quite soon.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe cited how important it was for the team to take some time away, even if a few are still competing in the world tournament.
“I think it’s really important,” Keefe explained after the Devils defeated the Montreal Canadiens 4-0 last Saturday. “You go out with a good feeling and feel good about the group. The message that we’re giving as a coaching staff, and the players buying into and executing it. That’s what it looks like. We get to enjoy that winning feeling. We’ve been through lots here. Christmas to now, it hasn’t been the way we want, it’s not to the standard we expect.
“Now we get a break, and it’s a well-earned break. You can talk about us being up and down, but in order for us to get this 4 Nations tournament in, this schedule has been a grind. It’s been tight, we’ve had some tough segments we’ve had to grind through, & injuries started to pile up. So all those sorts of things, the break comes at a nice time, and we’ll come back and have some opportunity and ramp back up again before we go into a difficult rest of February and March. We’ll take the break here and, certainly, we’ll enjoy it.”
Despite their struggles between the holiday and now, the Devils’ odds to make the playoffs still stand at 96% according to Dom Luszczyszyn’s latest projection with The Athletic, and even have an 11% chance to make the Stanley Cup Final.
There will be plenty of factors that go into the Devils fulfilling that 96% chance.
A Devils Trade is Coming, but the Magnitude is Unknown
Contrary to the belief on X, Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald is scouring the market. He’s personally been in attendance of a handful of games, scouting potential Devils trade targets to strengthen his team.
The Devils have good bones, but they certainly need reinforcements. They’re continually linked to some bottom-six players such as Jake Evans or Ryan Donato who should both provide a decent boost to the depth scoring issue.
However, it’s become increasingly obvious the Devils do need another top-six scorer.
Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but Fitzgerald never replaced Tyler Toffoli. Say what you will about the 2023-24 version of the Devils, but Toffoli provided proven scoring, and could swing momentum at the flick of the wrist.
The Devils don’t have a one-dimensional shooter like that right now. It’s hurt them at 5-on-5, specifically on the Jack Hughes line, but more importantly, on the power play.
If all the Devils do is acquire depth, they’ll still be good enough to make the playoffs and make some noise. However, if they truly believe they can compete for the Cup, they’ll find a way to go all in.
In a season where Jacob Markstrom has taken his game to another level, perhaps it’s the right time to push their chips all in, too.
Perhaps, a Kyle Palmieri reunion?
Key Players Nearing Return
Speaking of Markstrom, the Devils are projected to be mostly healthy upon returning, or soon-after the 4 Nations Face-Off.
Losing Jacob Markstrom wasn’t ideal, however, Jake Allen has done a stellar job stepping into the starter role in his absence.
Still, Markstrom is having a Vezina-caliber season. Getting him back in the fold and running him in tandem with Allen as opposed to settling for Nico Daws instills a lot more confidence in the roster, which should contribute to a more consistent product on the ice.
You know what else instills more confidence in the roster?
Nico Hischier.
The Devils were struggling even with their captain in the lineup. However, after leaving off on a good note pre 4 Nations break, and the projection that Hischier will be ready when the NHL schedule resumes, there is certainly reason to be optimistic the Devils will trend upward, as opposed to downward.
We’re still awaiting official word on Jonas Siegenthaler’s injury. However, if he misses an extended period of time, the Devils’ blueline should be sufficient with the veteran presence to support the likes of Simon Nemec.
Jack Hughes Gets Swagger Back After 4 Nations
As a result of Jack Hughes participating in the 4 Nations Face-Off, we’re banking on the Devils superstar to get his swagger back.
Hughes looks like he’s having a ton of fun with Team USA right now. He’s on the top line with arguably the tournament favorite team, and the temporary change in scenery could see Hughes return a more confident player, regardless of the tournaments’ outcome.
And that’s not to say he isn’t having fun with the Devils, but the collective break, plus jumping into a supremely competitive environment, could have positive ramifications on the Devils’ superstar through the rest of the season.
Hughes is producing at over a point per-game pace this season. However, he’s lacked that explosiveness we’ve seen before. With Team USA, Hughes has looked like his dangerous self, again, accruing an individual 81.1 xGF%. Yes, he’s playing with the elite of the elites, but it’s not as if he doesn’t skate on a highly skilled Devils team, and alongside the elite Jesper Bratt.
Down the stretch, we’re predicting Jack to get his swagger back.
Devils Go Into Postseason on High Note
If all goes according to plan, the Devils should go into the playoffs feeling pretty good about themselves.
That’s why this break was so important.
It was time for the Devils to heal, reset, and recharge. It’s now up to the Devils’ GM to address the needs, the roster to look in the mirror, and the superstar to realize his potential.
If so, we could see the Devils strapped onto a rocket heading into the postseason.
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