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On the Devils' woeful 5v5 play, Pavel Zacha, and the expansion draft

January 11, 2017, 10:49 AM ET [34 Comments]
Todd Cordell
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A few notes on this off-day:

1) Remember when the New Jersey Devils were 9-3-3 and looked the part of a team that would at least contend for a playoff spot? Good times, good times.

Since that point, the Devils have won just seven times in 27 games (26%) and their underlying numbers suggest that's no fluke.

Here is a look at how the Devils' 5v5 numbers compare to Colorado's and Arizona's, two teams with 30 points or less, over the last 27 games.



As you can see, the Devils' possession numbers are almost identical to Colorado's and Arizona's. The Devils are a little better in terms of controlling scoring chances, and a little worse when it comes to goals. That New Jersey's numbers are even in the same ballpark as those two teams is discouraging to say the least.

If the Devils continue playing the way they have the last few months, they're more likely to be picking in the top-3 than contending for a playoff spot. Given all the roster work still to be done, that may not be such a bad thing.

2) Pavel Zacha is a kid adjusting to the NHL game, a jam-packed schedule and playing on a bad team. In saying all that, his year to date has been pretty disappointing. He is pointless in his last 14 games, he didn't register even one shot in eight of those games, and he's producing at a 16-point pace over 82 games. He hasn't exactly been spoonfed top line minutes, power play time, etc. but those totals are still quite underwhelming given he's played at least 11 minutes in all but three games, one of which he left early with an injury.

More than anything else, I'd like to see him find the scoresheet a little more frequently in the 2nd half. He won't turn into a star overnight -- nobody expects that -- but it'd be nice to see some progress.

3) Things can change quickly in the NHL, but if the expansion draft was scheduled for tomorrow I'd guess the following would be kept by the Devils:

Forwards (7) - Taylor Hall, Adam Henrique, Kyle Palmieri, Mike Cammalleri, Travis Zajac, P.A. Parenteau, Beau Bennett.

Defensemen (3) - Andy Greene, Damon Severson, Ben Lovejoy.

G (1) - Cory Schneider.

Given age, cap hit, etc. I think Cammalleri could be an expendable piece up front but the Devils don't really have any other forwards worth keeping. Even getting to seven was difficult considering Parenteau is pretty much a lock to be traded and he doesn't have a contract for next season.

On defense, I could see John Moore being kept instead of Lovejoy, but I don't think either player is a particularly good option.

In goal...I don't really need to say anything. Obviously, Schneider will be kept.

Before anyone asks, Zacha, Miles Wood, Joseph Blandisi, John Quenneville, Steve Santini, etc. do not need to be protected so that's why you don't see their names above.

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