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You Can’t Ask For Much More. Chris Shaleesh |
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As the Hurricanes Sebastian Aho danced towards center ice celebrating his series clinching goal, as a Devils fan, could you even be mad? Let’s be real here, at the start of the season if I told you we would be in a do or die playoff game without Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Brandan Dillon and Jonathan Kovacevic what would you expect?
Despite the gentleman’s sweep, this team played phenomenal hockey. Due to the carnage, every single player was in an elevated role and answered the bell. Major credit has to be given to Sheldon Keefe and his staff. His men were prepared for battle especially after being down 2-0, showing his willingness and the acumen to make adjustments. On top of the strategy, Keefe had his men working. It would have been very easy to fold after going down 2-0 in the series and the injuries piling up, but Keefe along with team leaders had Jersey giving 110 percent at all times. Despite playing some of their best 5 on 5 hockey of the season, the injuries were just too much to overcome.
The Roster
With the Devils playing poorly going into the trade deadline and Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler seemingly done for the season, it didn’t make sense for GM Tom Fitzgerald to make a major splash. Forcing a trade and giving up assets for rentals just wasn’t in the cards this year. While it’s painful to essentially tap out in March, poor asset management now would lead to even more pain down the line.
Powerless Power Play Out Of Staff’s Power
Since September NHL teams have been working on their power play. Nearly every practice has some 5v4 action, especially when there are kinks to be worked out. The Devils had one of the leagues best this regular season, but when you take your two most important man-advantage players in Jack and Luke Hughes out, you’re forced to scramble. Take McDavid and Draisaitl out in Edmonton, MacKinnon and Makar out in Colorado, or even Aho and Svechnikov out for Carolina, what do those power plays look like now?
It’s unfortunate for NJ but when key cogs in the power play are unavailable, it’s not as easy as plug and play. Without Jack or Luke to gain the zone, the Devils struggled to pierce the blue line with possession 5 on 4. In addition once inside the zone, the quickness and the ability to work in tight spaces was a void that could not be filed by the remaining personnel.
In the end it just wasn’t the Devils year. However it was still a huge step forward with massive bright spots ahead.
Here’s my list of positive takeaways from this season that will help going forward:
Invaluable playoff experience gained
Simone Nemec’s “I belong here” playoff emergence after an up and down season
Luke Hughes getting better every night
Devils star players performing in playoffs (Nico and Timo especially)
The Quinn Hughes news
Jack Hughes will now have two surgically repaired shoulders. The procedure significantly reduces the risk of future dislocations.
A lot of you won’t like this one but we have the GM and the coach to win with. You have to think big picture. We are not the knee jerk Rangers who have to fire a coach every few years to quiet a whiny fan base. Trust the process.
And lastly, this season brought you ME! The Devils are back on HockeyBuzz where we belong! I look forward to bringing you guys the best coverage I possibly can for many years to come.
Thanks again to all of you for the continued support, it really means the world to me.
P.S.
I post opinion based articles from my point of view. It’s always ok to think I’m wrong and even disagree in the comments. Please never hesitate to comment just please be respectful to other posters(you can say whatever you want to me I don’t care, but be nice to our HockeyBuzz community)
STAY TUNED!
The Devils season may have ended but the discussion never stops. I have a ton more content coming this off-season.
My Sincerest Gratitude,
Chris
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