Because the New Jersey Devils put together in Prague to tackle the Buffalo Sabres and acquainted foe Lindy Ruff within the International Collection, it is a superb time to attach with our readers and reply the questions on their minds. The primary week is shaping as much as be a revenge tour of kinds because the Devils conflict with former coach Ruff in back-to-backs in Prague on Friday and Saturday after which return dwelling the place new head coach Sheldon Keefe takes on his former membership, the Toronto Maple Leafs, within the staff’s dwelling opener on Thursday evening.
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What higher time to step again and reply probably the most urgent questions on Devils followers’ minds? These are all actual questions from actual Devils followers.
Might You Clarify How Ruff’s “Excessive-Stress” System Differs From Keefe’s? – @DerMando
With a New Teaching Workers in Place, What Type of Model Will the Devils Be Taking part in This Season? – @MrEd315
As with something with a brand new coach, time will inform. From my conversations with gamers, Keefe, former captain, and present tv host Bryce Salvador, I see that the techniques are related in how they wish to play however schematically very totally different. Ruff employed a singular protection scheme in his defensive zone, typically resulting in missed coverages and assignments when everybody was not on the identical web page. This was particularly troublesome for brand spanking new acquisitions to acclimate to shortly. The crux was gamers enjoying protection based mostly on keys apart from their place.
So, for instance, you’ll have wingers going under the aim line defensively in the event that they had been within the zone first, and different coverages which are totally different than the normal approach in-zone protection are taught all through a lot of hockey. Two seasons in the past, the system labored flawlessly when it was deployed with a bunch of veteran defenders who had been within the system and a goalie who cleaned up errors. Final season, there have been far too many tactical breakdowns, and the goalies didn’t erase errors.
Keefe makes use of a extra conventional construction. In talking with Bryce earlier in camp, he indicated that it’s just like how most groups scheme their protection. He additionally stated that Keefe’s plan would permit chosen forwards permission to look to counter shortly when explicit seems come up. There was plenty of emphasis in camp on killing performs early within the zone and instantly turning to transition. Typically, this aggression will result in breakdowns and high-danger alternatives, so the staff focused Jacob Markstrom, who led the league most of final season in high-danger save proportion (HDSV%). Keefe has additionally stated he’s implementing a three-zone forecheck, which was new to this group of gamers. After the primary preseason recreation, he praised the staff for choosing it up so shortly. He has professed to wish to use a high-pressure system in all three zones and won’t concede ice.
Search for the forwards to be extra aggressive within the impartial zone, making an attempt to intercept pucks and apply strain somewhat than again into the defensive zone. One instance was Jesper Bratt‘s breakaway aim in opposition to the New York Islanders, the place Tomas Tatar attacked the puck provider, separating him from the puck. Nico Hischier pounced on the puck and led Bratt alone on the goalie.
These kind of performs, together with being extra aggressive bodily within the impartial zone alongside the partitions, ought to be hallmarks of what’s to come back this season and how one can sense that the staff is enjoying how Keefe needs them to play. After follow in Prague, Bratt spent plenty of time discussing how they had been engaged on sprinting. This technique would require prime conditioning from its gamers and, when executed accurately, will probably be quick and pleasurable hockey to look at. Whereas it could take time to implement absolutely, Keefe’s groups have ridden to success with this sort of hockey in any respect ranges and seem like a superb match for the Devils’ personnel.
One other factor to recollect is that whereas the Devils have a brand new head coach and a brand new coach for the forwards in Jeremy Colliton, a lot of Ruff’s employees remained in place. “Gilly” to the gamers, Ryan McGill stays the protection coach. He was the architect of the Satan’s wonderful defensive output two years in the past and the Vegas Golden Knights’ defenses for the primary few years of that franchise. The Devils additionally return goalie coach Dave Rogalski. He’s a lot maligned by the fan base for his incapacity to get higher performances from mediocre goaltenders. Now, with Markstrom and Jake Allen, he has the 2 greatest goalies he has labored with in New Jersey and may have a possibility to show his worth. The Devils additionally retained Chris Taylor and Sergei Brylin, who every present worth as abilities coaches and in numerous gameday roles, Taylor on the bench and Brylin because the staff’s eye within the sky. Brylin additionally straight connects to the Devils’ glory days and is a good instance to the gamers of what’s potential.
I Heard Somebody Is Being Inducted Into the Ring of Honor. Have You Heard Something About Who It Would possibly Be? It Would Be Stylish if the New Jersey Devils Group Honored the Three Head Coaches Who Introduced the Stanley Cup to the Backyard State. – Peter Zanelli
I contacted the Devils earlier than the date was introduced, however they’d not disclose the honoree’s title. Final 12 months, they didn’t announce that Brylin could be inducted till Nov. 21. Honoring the coaches could be an applicable gesture. One of many good issues is that there are many individuals deserving of induction moreover these coaches, together with Lou Lamoriello, John MacLean, Doc Emrick, and Chico Resch, to call a couple of. I think about they’ll start so as to add these coaches to the sector facade sooner somewhat than later.
What Do You Consider (What Seems to Be) Their Goalie Succession Plan Over the Subsequent 5 Years and Who Is the Eventual 1A? – @timwuud
There doesn’t appear to be a plan for the following 5 years, however that’s okay. Markstrom is anticipated to be the 1A for the following two seasons. Allen serves within the backup position this season, whereas Nico Daws, Isaac Poulter, and Tyler Brennan get the chance to get plenty of reps within the minors. These three and Jakub Malek will battle to take Allen’s position subsequent season. The Devils are lucky to have many choices and the posh of permitting the place to work itself out. The opposite factor to take out of this offseason is that Fitzgerald made it clear that he’s unafraid to do what is critical to get a bonafide starter.
The wildcard in all that is Mikhail Yegorov. The highest-ranked North American goalie on this 12 months’s draft has the potential to be a steal and make an influence quickly. Fitzgerald stated a giant cause for the Marino commerce was to get a second-round decide to accumulate Yegorov. The 6-foot-5 netminder will finally be heading to Boston College and have an opportunity to hone his abilities on the highest degree of the NCAA with nice teaching beneath former Satan Jay Pandolfo.
“He has an enormous professional presence and has proven regular growth all through the season. He strikes nicely all through the crease and has superb construction in his recreation. He’s very powerful to beat down low and in tight conditions and has an opportunity and the power to develop into an excellent professional with extra growth. He’s a high-end goalie prospect.”
Al Jensen, NHL Central Scouting on Devils Prospect Mikhail Yegorov
The Devils’ future in internet is brilliant. It’s unimaginable proper now to find out who the eventual 1A will probably be, however the excellent news is there are various choices and the Devils’ depth ought to permit them to have a participant in place as soon as Markstrom can not play 55 video games a season.
What’s the Concern-O-Meter on the Present State of the D Corps? – @timwuud
It’s too early to be involved. The excellent news is that Fitzgerald fortified the depth and has invested closely in his protection over the previous few years. That funding is bearing fruit, as Seamus Casey and Jonathan Kovacevic will probably be making their Devils debuts within the first recreation in opposition to Buffalo. For a staff to lose half of its prime seven defensemen and nonetheless have the ability to ice a reputable six-man unit speaks to its organizational depth.
How nicely Casey and Kovacevic do these first two weeks will possible go a great distance towards figuring out how a lot the staff rushes Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Santeri Hatakka again from their accidents. Taking part in with 4 right-shot defensemen is much from ultimate, nonetheless, Casey’s expertise enjoying the left aspect in school is a big profit to New Jersey.
At What Level Do We Begin to Fear About Meier’s Manufacturing and Blaming both the System or the Strains? I Really feel Like He Has a Historical past of Beginning Seasons Sluggish and Ending Sturdy. – @hockeyfisch
Timo Meier must get off to a quick begin this season. As you word, he has a penchant for beginning sluggish, and the Devils have the offensive firepower to climate an early Meier droop, however for his confidence, getting off to a quick begin is important. As for worrying about his manufacturing, that concern is misplaced. He has led New Jersey in objectives since he was acquired. Has he scored as a lot as he or the fan base would really like? Most likely not, however no one on the staff has scored extra and that counts for one thing. He did that whereas speeding again from two MCL tears, an stomach difficulty, and enjoying by means of a shoulder difficulty that wanted offseason surgical procedure.
Apart from coping with a number of accidents, he struggled to search out traction in Ruff’s system. He was typically deployed quizzically, continuously shifting between the highest three traces and discovering himself on the fourth line. His energy play time was additionally curtailed, and he appeared by no means to discover a constant groove. Meier performed on 16 distinct traces all through the season alongside 11 totally different linemates (minimal 10 minutes of ice time). His fortune did appear to vary when Fitzgerald fired Ruff. Meier was given extra common ice time and linemates from that date ahead and produced outcomes. He delivered 24 factors within the remaining 21 video games, scoring 15 objectives, greater than twice as many as every other Devils participant.
Regardless of enjoying by means of two knee accidents, Meier nonetheless topped out within the 92nd percentile in the whole NHL for prime velocity (per NHL Edge). He averages 31 objectives and 143 hits per 82 video games for his profession. Add these abilities together with his velocity, and you’ll have a tailored ahead to play within the fast-paced, high-pressure system Keefe is trying to set up. Meier is an underrated play driver who can skate pucks out of bother by means of the impartial zone, enter the offensive zone, and instantly develop into a menace to attain. He’s certainly one of New Jersey’s greatest forwards across the internet, each as a screener and at corralling free pucks and placing them dwelling earlier than the protection and goalie can react. He ought to have a possibility to select up many rebound objectives with a wholesome Dougie Hamilton bombing from the purpose. Meier is poised to have an enormous season.
What Are the Expectations for This Season? – @matt12r
Playoffs or bust. The first step needs to be moving into the playoffs to avenge final season’s dreadful efficiency. After that, rather a lot will rely upon matchups and well being, however the staff would definitely not be enthusiastic about not going as deep into the playoffs as two seasons in the past. From a staff perspective on a extra granular degree, it ought to be to complete the season within the prime 5 in energy play proportion and penalty killing, which is achievable. Ought to they discover a strategy to weaponize particular groups, they are going to be difficult to play in opposition to.
Thanks to everybody who submitted questions. Benefit from the season.