Entering the 2015-16 season the only thing the New Jersey Devils were expected to compete for was the 1st overall pick.
While things can change the Devils have certainly not looked the part of a bottom feeder and currently sit in a tie for 8th in the Eastern Conference in points.
One of the biggest reasons for the Devils' early season success is the play of Adam Henrique. No. 14 has come out of the gate flying having scored six goals and tallied nine points in 12 games while driving possession at a high rate (+4.4 Corsi For Relative to the team) playing alongside Mike Cammalleri and Lee Stempniak.
He's done more than just contribute offensively, though, as he's been one of the league's best defensive players in the early going.
Among forwards who have logged more than 100 minutes of ice at full-strength Henrique ranks 2nd when it comes to suppressing shots.
As you can see only Nicklas Backstrom has been on the ice for less shot attempts against per 60 minutes of 5 vs 5 play and he has logged almost 50 minutes less than Henrique in that game state. Should the minimum be set at 150 minutes Henrique would come in at No. 1.
Henrique has done an excellent job at suppressing shot attempts so it should be a surprise to nobody that he fares quite well in terms of preventing scoring chances.
Of the 137 forwards who have logged 150 minutes of ice at 5 vs 5 Henrique ranks 3rd(!) in scoring chances against per 60 allowing just 16.83. Only Zemgus Girgensons and Jonathan Huberdeau have done better in that regard while Jason Zucker and Joni Lehtera rank just below Henrique.
As a whole the Devils play a sound defensive system, and are a very low-event team, which certainly doesn't hurt Henrique's numbers but what he is doing right now remains impressive nonetheless.
Henrique may be getting a lot of credit for what he is doing with the puck but he just might be playing even better without it. Prospect Updates - After failing to record a point in consecutive games Pavel Zacha got back on track Wednesday night against the Owen Sound Attack. Zacha scored and had eight(!) shots on goal in a 4-3 win.
Fellow Devils prospect Josh Jacobs registered a primary assist on the man advantage and recorded five shots on goal in the winning effort.
- Blake Speers also had a good night at the office as he tallied a pair of assists and four shots in Soo's 6-4 loss to Saginaw.
Defenseman Colton White was held pointless but had two shots from the back end.
- Overage forward Brandon Baddock, who remains unsigned by the Devils, scored a pair of goals (one was an empty-netter) in Edmonton's 4-2 win over the Seattle Thunderbirds. He has eight points in 17 games.
Recent Posts That One Stings