Since the lockout, no NHL team has faced more adversity than the New Jersey Devils. Not only did the Devils have 2 separate salary cap messes in 2005-2006 and Summer of 2010, but they have had 7 different head coaches since the work stoppage ended. The Devils have also not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since the 2007 playoffs and last year was rock-bottom as they missed the playoffs for the first time since 1996. However, despite missing the playoffs, expectations remain very high in New Jersey as it always has, Stanley Cup or bust.
This year, the Devils will hope to return to their dominant form that made them a staple in the NHL for the past 20 years. In comes their 7th new coach since the lockout in Peter DeBoer as he will be charged with the task of turning the Devils around. The Devils biggest off-season move was drafting Swedish phenom Adam Larsson with the 4th overall pick in the draft. He will be given every opportunity to make the team in training camp. Other than that the team also brought in some toughness in Cam Janssen and Eric Boulton, who will battle it out for the enforcers roll. Boulton will likely beat out Janssen, but Cam will definitely be up and down from Albany and back.
Another factor that will determine the Devils success will be their health. Zach Parise who missed 69 games last season is finally healthy as well as defenseman Bryce Salvador, who was missed last year. The Devils will be without top-line center Travis Zajac until late November or even a bit longer, but GM Lou Lamoriello believes the Devils can still be very effective without him. Its likely that Patrik Elias, Jacob Josefson or Dainius Zubrus will be asked to play center on the top-line until Travis returns.
Obviously, the biggest questions facing the Devils are how will Kovalchuk play this year, will they lock-up Parise long-term before season's end, and how many games will Marty play. I think Kovalchuk will have a much better year this season. Last year was the getting used to year for him and he was relied upon way to heavily to provide 95% of the offense, which is unacceptable for a first-class organization such as the Devils. My guess is that Parise will end up a Devil long-term, but I think there is a good chance he will test the free agent market next summer. He will have a huge market for him since after him, there are not many big free agent names. The Toronto Maple Leafs and the Los Angeles Kings are likely to make the biggest push for Parise after failing with Brad Richards this past summer. Other that could make a push are the Sabres, Wild, Blues, Canucks, Predators, Red Wings, Stars, Islanders, Sharks, Panthers, Lightning, and Canadiens. But, having said all of that, if Lou Lamoriello changes the "Status Quo" of having a closed door policy on any contract negotiations during the season, I believe that Zach will be locked up sometime before the deadline in February. If by any reason, Parise tells the Devils there is no long-term guarantee, they might be forced to seek a trade. Finally, on the Brodeur front. It is evident that Marty Brodeur has faced an extremely heavy workload in the past years, but I think this year it will change. My belief is that he will start in at least 60 games, but they have to manage him very carefully.
I think the Devils success will ultimately depend on how they start and finish the year. They cannot start 9-22-3 like the did last year. They need to win 50% of those games and most of them were winnable games. Yes they had a hot stretch from mid- January to mid-March by going 21-2-3, but still their start hurt them. My belief is that Peter DeBoer will be around for a while and this time Lou Lamoriello will have no-one to blame but himself should the Devils struggle. However, I am picking them 6th or 7th in the East with a good potential for a first round playoff win.
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