Why are the Devils 21-4-1? insane easy schedule, makes perfect sense.

[Guttersniped]

Yeah agree what you saying but my point was that playoffs is different world and we have long way to get there so it is stupid that some Devils fans saying here that there is couple or zero teams that could beat us in playoffs at this point.

There’s only one who actually said something like that.

Another gave a really rosy, short description that the HFBoards Master Debater decided was a perfect opening to start a torturous “you said the Devils are better than Boston” debate for himself.

 

[HBK27]

Andrew Brunette is the whole reason they improved. I'll tell you right now, Lindy Ruff is handing the mic to him and he's doing nothing. If you watch them it doesn't look like the kind of boring bland hockey Lindy Ruff coaches. It looks like how Brunette coached Florida last season.

Boldest prediction is Brunette gets another coaching job and the Devils lose their backbone and flirt with the wild card.

Huh? An assistant coach is far from the "whole reason they improved".

A healthy Hamilton, Hischier and Hughes has been big, Marino and Brendan Smith replacing Subban and Ty Smith, the addition of several vets that know how the win (Palat, Haula & Smith), getting a decent goaltender in Vanecek (who's been great this season) versus the 7 they burned thru last season, the resurgence of Tatar, continued progression from the young players...

You don't just see this type of a dramatic change because of an assistant coach. Is you bold prediction that the Devils lose Brunette in-season? Because that sure as hell is not happening.

 

[BruinLVGA]

You mean like Bruin fans on this thread are minding THEIR team?? Talk about hypocrisy.

Am I somehow responsible for what all Bruins fans do / act? Gtfo.

 

[HBK27]

Man, it's crazy what an insanely easy schedule can do...

16 Stats: Mitch Marner's streak, Buffalo's top six and Carolina's depth

Streaks build neat little narratives, but the narrative for Marner should’ve already been written.

theathletic.com

 

[Craft Beer Lover]

Am I somehow responsible for what all Bruins fans do / act? Gtfo.

No, son; just your own wretched conduct.

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

Am I somehow responsible for what all Bruins fans do / act? Gtfo.

I have not looked back in the thread so I do not know what everyone is referring to, but you were here defending Nico on the Main Board long before it was cool to do so.

 

[Bobby9]

The Devils are everything the Oilers wished they turned out to be after rebuild 1, 2 and 3.

 

[TBF1972]

I have not looked back in the thread so I do not know what everyone is referring to, but you were here defending Nico on the Main Board long before it was cool to do so.

swiss hockey fan

 

[Sasha Orlov]

The Devils are everything the Oilers wished they turned out to be after rebuild 1, 2 and 3.

They haven’t made the playoffs in 4 years lmfao so not quite

 

[HBK27]

They haven’t made the playoffs in 4 years lmfao so not quite

It's not just about making the playoffs - it's about building a team that can consistently compete for the Cup over a 5-10 years like a Tampa, Colorado or Boston.

The Devils aren't there yet, but the foundation is certainly in place. You have star players in Hughes, Hischier and Hamilton locked up on long-term deals (with Nico & Jack arguably on team-friendly contracts)...hopefully Bratt gets added to that list soon. They have tons of depth both at the NHL level and in their prospect pool. Additional potential high-end players in Luke Hughes, Nemec and Holtz still on the way. No really bad contracts on the books - the worse being Palat (5 x $6M, though it's structured to make him easier to move if needed after year 3)...after that maybe Hamilton (?) - though he's been worth every penny this season and his contract is structured that he could be moved after 2 1/2 seasons from now when he'll still only be 31.

The 2018 playoff may have hurt the rebuild as they dealt away 2nd and 3rd round picks at the deadline for 1 playoff win...though with the butterfly effect and all they still landed Hughes a year later, so it probably turned out for the best.

Best thing Fitzgerald can do is continue to be patient with this team. He's done a great job so far, whereas Shero tried to rush things in trading for Subban & Gusev among others. Based on everything Fitz has said, it seems like that's the approach he's going to take. I would not expect the Devils to be too active at the trade deadline - maybe some minor moves, but I don't see him trading away a 1st rounder or top prospects for a rental.

 

[Devils731]

Huh? The biggest improvement has been the structure in their own end and that would be the addition of McGill not Brunette.. the other stuff was apparent last year even prior to the addition of Brunette.. Ruff style has never been bland.. the Devils played the same high speed game as Florida last season...

I actually think the Devils structure in their own end isn’t great and similar to last year. They do prevent teams from cycling more often but that’s because they’re not allowing other teams to start the cycle as often from the neutral zone.

The real defensive difference is coming at the opponents blue line. The Devils are aggressively attacking the puck there, slowing the other team through the neutral zone and putting the other team in a worse situation when entering the Devils zone…except when the other teams beats the pressure and gets an odd man rush.

Last year the Devils forechecked deep into the zone more aggressively, would get strung out with no support, and would then give the opponents time and space through the neutral zone and all the way into the offensive zone.

Even though this change is on the offensive end of the ice I think it’s the big difference defensively.

 

[Classic Devil]

I actually think the Devils structure in their own end isn’t great and similar to last year. They do prevent teams from cycling more often but that’s because they’re not allowing other teams to start the cycle as often from the neutral zone.

The real defensive difference is coming at the opponents blue line. The Devils are aggressively attacking the puck there, slowing the other team through the neutral zone and putting the other team in a worse situation when entering the Devils zone…except when the other teams beats the pressure and gets an odd man rush.

Last year the Devils forechecked deep into the zone more aggressively, would get strung out with no support, and would then give the opponents time and space through the neutral zone and all the way into the offensive zone.

Even though this change is on the offensive end of the ice I think it’s the big difference defensively.

It's not just that. The team is also much better at being active with their sticks. There's an additional effort on the defensive side of the game and attention to detail.

 

[Satans Hockey]

Lol Weekes...

 

[RANDOMH3RO]

It's not just that. The team is also much better at being active with their sticks. There's an additional effort on the defensive side of the game and attention to detail.

I think this is a major part of the defensive structure. Most of the blue line are tall guys with long sticks. No easy entires into the zone because they are active with the sticks in lanes and blocking passss or poking it to create a turnover that a forward in support to carry it back the other way.

So this has lead to teams dumping pucks in against the devils, and the biggest improvement to me this season has been there ability to go D to D below their own goal line and safely exit the zone. So frequently in previous years the D would be caught behind their own net trying to retrieve pucks under pressure and turning it over. Happened constantly last year. This season, it doesn’t happen very frequently, but the times where the devils have given up bad goals it’s because of this. Happened the first couple games against Philly and Detroit, and caused the Tavares goal in the Toronto loss.

It’s been a thing of beauty to see sieg go back to retrieve a puck below the goal line under pressure. He absorbs a hit while poking it to Doug so he can carry or fire it up the boards for a safe exit. Really has been a major difference for results. Along with competent goaltending, the defense plays with a lot more confidence now.

 

[Classic Devil]

I think this is a major part of the defensive structure. Most of the blue line are tall guys with long sticks. No easy entires into the zone because they are active with the sticks in lanes and blocking passss or poking it to create a turnover that a forward in support to carry it back the other way.

So this has lead to teams dumping pucks in against the devils, and the biggest improvement to me this season has been there ability to go D to D below their own goal line and safely exit the zone. So frequently in previous years the D would be caught behind their own net trying to retrieve pucks under pressure and turning it over. Happened constantly last year. This season, it doesn’t happen very frequently, but the times where the devils have given up bad goals it’s because of this. Happened the first couple games against Philly and Detroit, and caused the Tavares goal in the Toronto loss.

It’s been a thing of beauty to see sieg go back to retrieve a puck below the goal line under pressure. He absorbs a hit while poking it to Doug so he can carry or fire it up the boards for a safe exit. Really has been a major difference for results. Along with competent goaltending, the defense plays with a lot more confidence now.

Yep. I think that is the biggest difference. And adding Marino means we now do it reliably on all three pairs.

 

[GermanSpitfire]

George with the double down - bold decision.

 

[severian]

Lol Weekes...

That is so horribly awesome. Love Weekes.

 

[MAB1]

Man, it's crazy what an insanely easy schedule can do...

16 Stats: Mitch Marner's streak, Buffalo's top six and Carolina's depth

Streaks build neat little narratives, but the narrative for Marner should’ve already been written.

theathletic.com

View attachment 618596

The Panthers last year were a juggernaut? Good lord. 2/3 teams that won cups in those seasons were already vet teams that won prior cups with their core. The Blues had numerous post-season exits leading up to that year. The Devils haven't even qualified for playoffs in almost a decade.

They're far more on the Panthers side of that grouping than the Wings, Pens, Blues.

 

[TheNumber4]

I think NJ is the real deal, in that they are finally a playoff team, but they have had the easiest schedule so far in the League and that must account for a portion of their record:

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Strength of Schedule Played and Strength of Schedule Remaining for all 31 NHL teams.

powerrankingsguru.com

Literally the easiest schedule in the League.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Andrew Brunette is the whole reason they improved. I'll tell you right now, Lindy Ruff is handing the mic to him and he's doing nothing. If you watch them it doesn't look like the kind of boring bland hockey Lindy Ruff coaches. It looks like how Brunette coached Florida last season.

Boldest prediction is Brunette gets another coaching job and the Devils lose their backbone and flirt with the wild card.

No, the guy in net is the reason they've improved the most. I love brunette as a hire but the powerplay has been still somewhat of a miss after a hot start early, Ryan McGill has a better overall assistant out of him and Brunette. The McGill's PK + defense have been worlds better than what Brunette has done so far on the powerplay.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

I think NJ is the real deal, in that they are finally a playoff team, but they have had the easiest schedule so far in the League and that must account for a portion of their record:

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Strength of Schedule Played and Strength of Schedule Remaining for all 31 NHL teams.

powerrankingsguru.com

Literally the easiest schedule in the League.

Sure, but there's teams in the Metro and around the league who've been dropping games to bad teams recently. There's something to be said for the Devils picking up points on off nights and when they're playing a few bad teams and then facing a good team which could lead to complacency in the latter. They've arguably looked like a good team regardless who they've played and haven't played to their competition besides maybe 3-4 games this year.

 

[Stealth JD]

I think NJ is the real deal, in that they are finally a playoff team, but they have had the easiest schedule so far in the League and that must account for a portion of their record:

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Strength of Schedule Played and Strength of Schedule Remaining for all 31 NHL teams.

powerrankingsguru.com

Literally the easiest schedule in the League.

Every game is easy when you're significantly better than the opposition. Every other team has a tougher schedule because they have to play the Devils!

 

[severian]

I think NJ is the real deal, in that they are finally a playoff team, but they have had the easiest schedule so far in the League and that must account for a portion of their record:

NHL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Strength of Schedule Played and Strength of Schedule Remaining for all 31 NHL teams.

powerrankingsguru.com

Literally the easiest schedule in the League.

Imagine this was old school divisional heavy scheduling. 6 more games each with Philly and the Jackets would be nice.

 

[HBK27]

The Panthers last year were a juggernaut? Good lord. 2/3 teams that won cups in those seasons were already vet teams that won prior cups with their core. The Blues had numerous post-season exits leading up to that year. The Devils haven't even qualified for playoffs in almost a decade.

They're far more on the Panthers side of that grouping than the Wings, Pens, Blues.

Incorrect.

They were in the playoffs in 2018...not that it means much for the current team as they only lasted 5 games, but it did give Nico, Wood, Severson & Bratt a bit of playoff experience.

 

[Luigi Lemieux]

Panthers, Pens, Wild and especially Blues aren’t very good

Penguins underlying stats are actually very good. 5th best even strength team in the league.