The New Jersey Devils 2024-25 season has already begun, but tonight is the team’s opener at The Rock. We look at six quick facts and topics surrounding the team today.
With the current NHL season being only two games old (at least for the New Jersey Devils) there’s not as many big storylines or topics to analyze. That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t a number of smaller topics that we can touch upon and analyze a bit. Here are some Thursday Thoughts just hours before the team’s home opener:
Paul Cotter is On Pace for 82 Goals This Season
Alright, this isn’t going to happen, but Cotter to this point has been everything the Devils have wanted him to be. He brings some physicality, he hasn’t made mistakes that hurt the team, and he’s shown some offensive flair to bring some secondary scoring. Obviously the offensive pace is going to be difficult if not impossible to keep up, but Cotter needs to continue to be a net positive for the team. Even if this just means moving the puck in the correct direction and helping to prevent goals, Cotter will still be more impactful and useful than some of the team’s fourth line players in recent memory.
Secondary Scoring Did What it Needed to in Prague
If I told you before the start of the season that the teams top two lines would combine for a goal and an assist in the first game, you would assume the Devils lost right? Well that wasn’t the case thanks to the team’s supplemental scoring starting off well. While Paul Cotter got his own section above, Stefan Noesen, Jonathan Kovacevic, and rookie Seamus Casey weren’t expected to lead the offense (maybe some expected out from Casey) yet they were instrumental in not just the first game, but the second as well. Add in a pair of Nathan Bastian assists that probably no one predicted, and the result was four points before any regular season games were played in North America. I like this recipe for success; it’s up to the personnel to keep using it.
The Snarl
As will be a recurring theme for an article published two games into the season, it’s a small sample size, but I’m digging Brenden Dillon. He brings some of the physicality and grit the Devils organization and fans have desired. With or without accounting for the hit on JJ Peterka that unfortunately ended his night early in the second game, Dillon has been stepping up to and into opposing players. Having a player who’s both tough AND useful on the ice has been a pleasant change from previously trotting out players who were in the lineup just for the sake of toughness; for those who plan to comment, yes I’m aware the Devils still had a player fitting the latter description in the lineup for that second game, but that wasn’t intended.
And yes, for those keeping score at home, Dillon and Dougie Hamilton were the pair on for each Buffalo goal in each game. The first was a bag breakdown that hopefully gets fixed as the team plays together more. The second I’m more forgiving of, as that play was a cluster with one Sabre luckily getting their stick under Jake Allen’s pad. I’m also not worrying because both have also been on the ice for a number of the Devils goals as well.
Don’t Rush Luke Hughes Back
Luke Hughes joined the Devils on the ice for practice this week, albeit in a non-contact jersey. While it’s great to see him practicing, there’s no need to hurry him back into the lineup. While the team currently isn’t carrying any extra defenders (Santeri Hatakka is listed on the roster but injured), the team should have new signing Brett Pesce available very soon. With Seamus Casey giving the Devils another defender who looks comfortable at the NHL level, the team can afford Luke all the time he needs to get back up to speed. The trio of pairs the team rolled out has looked good so far and Pesce’s skill will only aid the group once he’s ready to jump into game action. Don’t get it twisted: Luke is still an integral piece of the Devils now and going forward. The team just has the necessary defensive depth to still ice a competitive lineup through injury and illness. That depth is what gives me hope for a better season from the Devils.
Tending in the Right Direction
In their first two games, the Devils allowed 31 and 18 shots respectively. Obviously, the second game was a better effort than the first, but there was one constant despite the shot disparity. In each game, only one of those shots got past each goalie. Some of the credit has to go to the defense, but Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen deserve a lot of that credit as well. I’m still a bit cautious due to each goalie’s statistical history, but as I’ve said before, if we get even league average from our net minders, the Devils are easily a playoff team, if not more than that. Tonight’s game will serve as a better test for the back half of the ice and I’m interested to see how it goes.
Wait Until the Premier Names Get Going
The Devils top line of Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier contributed nothing to the score sheet in game one. Game two was much better with a goal for Meier, an assist for Bratt, and a pair of apples for Jack. The second line of Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer and Tomas Tatar had a bit of a reversal, with a goal from Hischier and an assist from Mercer in game one and nothing in game two. Yet, even with limited point contributions from these lines, the Devils still won both games.
Once these lines start scoring with more regulatory, there’s going to be trouble for the rest of the league this season. While I don’t think many expect Buffalo to be a big player yet (no offense if there are any Sabres fans who read this), the Devils comfortably won with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt looking average. We all know those two can take over and dominate games; once that happens, then the real fun begins in 2024-25.
Your Take
What are your thoughts on these topics as the Devils head into their home opener tonight: do you expect 82 goals from Cotter? Are you impressed with any other individual performances from any other player? Are you encouraged by the Devils play while not at full strength for the season yet? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!