Todd Cordell: Why The Devils Are in Line For a Bounce Back Season

Jagr posts a career year, 73 goals, 82 assists while posting 32 minutes TOI.

Jagr posts a career year, 73 goals, 82 assists while posting 32 minutes TOI.
- YzermanIsTheMan

And dont forget he will compete hard for this years Mr universe

And dont forget he will compete hard for this years Mr universe
- blizzzard

If you guys get into the playoffs, that sexy ass beard of his alone will take that title.

I Think on based off what I read there is a greater chance this year they dont make it. Cory has no one to push him and they have injured players as wingers and the youth on D can not yet be counted on. I say they take a even larger step back this year to make a bigger one next year.

Because the Jagr take Jersey girls for boom boom squish squish. Tooshy party.

I Think on based off what I read there is a greater chance this year they dont make it. Cory has no one to push him and they have injured players as wingers and the youth on D can not yet be counted on. I say they take a even larger step back this year to make a bigger one next year.
- jake24242

I disagree. I would say Cory has a career year and their D plays well. But, I'm just giving my opinion. We will have to see if Jagr posts 70+ goals.

I disagree. I would say Cory has a career year and their D plays well. But, I'm just giving my opinion. We will have to see if Jagr posts 70+ goals.
- YzermanIsTheMan

To think there's a chance he won't is ridiculous. You sir know nothing about hockey.

Not to sound like a troll or anything, but I don't think the changes you mentioned and the normal progression of young players will be enough to propel you to the playoffs. You basically have a veteran that might regress for every youngster that might progress.

Also, it's not a given that Schneider will keep posting the same kind of save % now that he'll get the majority of the workload.

I think you'll come up short again this year but that's my worthless opinion.

Flame away!

So basically what I said.. except most of my fancy facts come from you, but the common sense is right on! Lol

Because the Jagr take Jersey girls for boom boom squish squish. Tooshy party.
- glove_was_stuck

why is this so funny

Devils don't have it this year IMHO, though you really are the Zombie franchise. Why won't you just die!

Schneider is the one sure thing.

Everything else has plenty of grey area to go horribly wrong. Havlat and Cammalleri could struggle with injuries. The young defenseman may not be able to handle the larger responsibilities.

Not saying it will or it won't go either way. There's just an overwhelmingly obvious amount of grey area with the way the team has been structured.

That makes it tough to be overly optimistic.

Not to sound like a troll or anything, but I don't think the changes you mentioned and the normal progression of young players will be enough to propel you to the playoffs. You basically have a veteran that might regress for every youngster that might progress.

Also, it's not a given that Schneider will keep posting the same kind of save % now that he'll get the majority of the workload.

I think you'll come up short again this year but that's my worthless opinion.

Flame away!
- Traceur

Yes, but having the most important player that is miles better than who he replaces is a key factor (Schneider/Brodeur). And ANY of our young D is better than Volchenkov. I'd wager Larsson will be as solid as Fayne (who was no all star). Larsson has experience playing 2nd pair minutes, big playoff minutes etc. He's ready, and should've been full time last year... but Lou and Pete... Merrill was already playing 2nd pairing with Zidlicky (who isn't great defensively) and he matured dramatically over the season. He's already solid in his 2nd pair "role". The D isn't a concern. The goalie is miles better. The forwards, even if Elias and Jagr take a step back, we're adding a guy 7th in the league for 5v5 Gf, and he won't be regressing.

It's sense really. G much improved. D and O moderately to even minimally improved. Nothing got worse.
We missed by 5 points. Look at the shootout record. Win a few shootouts more than zero and were in.

why is this so funny

Devils don't have it this year IMHO, though you really are the Zombie franchise. Why won't you just die!
- coffee junkie

Always double tap

Great write up Todd... but for now Gelinas isn't signed... there are rumblings within the organization that Gelinas' agent and Lamoriello aren't quite seeing eye-to-eye.

why is this so funny

Devils don't have it this year IMHO, though you really are the Zombie franchise. Why won't you just die!
- coffee junkie

we're coming for that ass

To think there's a chance he won't is ridiculous. You sir know nothing about hockey.
- MannySilvers

I still think they're probably a year away from being where they'd like to be. They'll shed another 18 million in payroll next off-season and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them add Fisher, Krejci, or Vermette if they get to the market. That would go a long way towards rolling all three lines as they prefer.

Don't think they're quite there yet with Ruutu and Zubrus.

I'm vaguely optimistic about this season. Schneider over Brodeur alone likely would have put us in the playoffs last year, or a bit more luck in the shootout. The Devils are an elite possession team, same category as the Kings and Blackhawks, and at a certain point I feel that has to pay off. This team is built for the playoffs, they just need to get there.

I still think they're probably a year away from being where they'd like to be. They'll shed another 18 million in payroll next off-season and I wouldn't be surprised at all to see them add Fisher, Krejci, or Vermette if they get to the market. That would go a long way towards rolling all three lines as they prefer.

Don't think they're quite there yet with Ruutu and Zubrus.
- njdevils350

I completely agree, but I still think they're a wildcard team this year. The following year is one I'm excited about, but you never know. That following year may see a dramatic fall in Elias' ability, and I doubt Jagr can be that top RW. Maybe we bring in a top UFA, let so much fat go, and bring in 2 kids (Boucher and whoever.. perhaps Matteau or Bell?). This year will definitely be interesting tho with the youth on D and Schneider in G.. and of course Cam. I think the Havlat experiment will go similar to Sykora: he'll greatly benefit from Elias, but will be injured and not be an important piece come playoff time. But if he gets us some goals to make the playoffs, that's also important.

I'm vaguely optimistic about this season. Schneider over Brodeur alone likely would have put us in the playoffs last year, or a bit more luck in the shootout. The Devils are an elite possession team, same category as the Kings and Blackhawks, and at a certain point I feel that has to pay off. This team is built for the playoffs, they just need to get there.
- MannySilvers

having the 7th best 5v5 scorer in the league, while playing with Backlund who is similar to Zajac.. and rotating RWs who I doubt can control the puck like Jagr,.. may help the whole adding goals to go with the possession issue.
We have reason to be vaguely optimistic about G, D, and O. .. and shootouts. so.. i mean it's better than last year, which was better than the prior year.

why is this so funny

Devils don't have it this year IMHO, though you really are the Zombie franchise. Why won't you just die!
- coffee junkie

Why don't u have another cup of coffee. Sounds like you need one

I feel like the advanced stats community needs the Devils to do well and the Avalanche to fall off a bit. Last year those two (and partially Montreal) were the poster teams for non-analytics guys to point to.

2013-14 CF%
1) Los Angeles
2) Chicago
3) New Jersey
4) Boston
5) San Jose
6) St. Louis
...
25) Colorado
26) Montreal

I truly believe where the possession stats really come into play is the playoffs. If the Devils continue to play the possession game they have for the past 2-3 years, legitimately the only team in the East I think the Devils would have a really hard time beating in a series is the Bruins (not saying they'd crush every other team, but I think they'd have a legitimate shot). Looking at the possession stats make it seem like less of a fluke they went to the Finals in 2012. They just need to find a way to get in, and once there anything can happen, and their possession numbers indicate they could be a real player in the East playoffs.

Not to sound like a troll or anything, but I don't think the changes you mentioned and the normal progression of young players will be enough to propel you to the playoffs. You basically have a veteran that might regress for every youngster that might progress.

Also, it's not a given that Schneider will keep posting the same kind of save % now that he'll get the majority of the workload.

I think you'll come up short again this year but that's my worthless opinion.

Flame away!
- Traceur

What you don't understand though is that many of the guys older guys have already regressed to the point that we're starting to not rely on them so much. Jagr, Zidlicky and Elias are the only one's who really have enough of an impact on the team to matter. Elias's style will allow him to remain productive, Zidlicky can be replaced by the 3 young guys, and Jagr, well, he's really the wildcard here. If he regresses we're probably f'd.

I'm not concerned about Schneider's workload. This is a normal schedule and he'll have plenty of rest if he needs it.

Teams with top 5 possession numbers, top 5 in defense, top ranked penalty killing, top 10 power play (although I expect that to regress to the bottom 1/2 of the league next year) don't usually miss the playoffs. Our goaltending sucked the last two years, now it doesn't. I'm pretty confident we'll make the playoffs.

Gotta love how Morgan rielly is a star in the making and will not regress but its pretty much fact that Larsson is a bust and gelinas and Merrill take a step back let mW guess to tinordi comes in second for the Norris only behind rielly and both galchenyuk and kessel will battle it out for art Ross. Almost everyone who has came in here and said we will be worse cheer for teams who literally got worse which is why they are so sour