As we approach the 2016-17 season, we’re previewing what’s ahead for each of the 30 NHL teams. Here’s a look at the New Jersey Devils.
MAIN SUMMER HEADLINES
• Devils acquire Taylor Hall from Edmonton for Adam Larsson
• Leading scorer Kyle Palmieri re-signs for five years, $23.25 million
• Devils bring in Ryane Clowe as assistant coach
Head coach: John Hynes
GM: Ray Shero
Team payroll: $61.71 million ($73 million salary cap)
2015-16 Record: 38-36-8 (Seventh in Metro)
GF: 184 (30th in NHL)
GA: 208 (Ninth in NHL)
Result: Missed playoffs by 12 points
Key acquisitions: Taylor Hall, Ben Lovejoy, Vernon Fiddler, Beau Bennett, Brandon Gormley
Key departures: Adam Larsson, Jordin Tootoo, David Schlemko, Stephen Gionta
Rookies to watch: Pavel Zacha, the sixth overall pick of the 2015 Draft, is set to leave his mark at Devils training camp and push for a roster spot. After missing development camp in the summer because of a hip pointer, Zacha is fully recovered and pushing for the pro roster. At 6-foot-3 and 213 pounds, Zacha can play either centre or left wing, but with those positions spoken for on the top two lines, Zacha may start off on the third line. He finished his OHL career last season with 28 goals and 64 points in 51 games as a member of the Sarnia Sting. A late-season call-up saw him get in one game with the Devils, where he recorded two assists.
Another youngster to watch is 21-year-old defenceman Steve Santini, who was signed out of Boston College and played one game for the Devils at the end of last season. He’s 6-foot-2, 208 pounds and has a puck-moving game with some physicality, too. With a strong camp, Santini could land a top four role on New Jersey’s blue line right away.
New Jersey will have a successful season if…
They find the back of the net with greater frequency. The Devils finished dead-last in scoring last year, even though Kyle Palmieri and Adam Henrique broke through with career best 30-goal seasons. Problem now is that Henrique’s 20.1 shooting percentage was so high, his goal totals are likely drop. Palmieri’s shooting percentage, though not as high or as unsustainable, was still better than he’d ever had before. This is why the acquisition of Taylor Hall is so important. He comes with a promise of offence (if at the expense of defence) and he needs to pull through.
New Jersey will have an unsuccessful season if…
Cory Schneider gets injured or doesn’t have the kind of season we’ve become accustomed to. Schneider has been one of the best goalies in the NHL for six seasons now, but hasn’t gotten acclaim because he was stuck in a tandem in Vancouver, then stuck behind a brutal offence in New Jersey that has squashed his personal success. With all the issues in New Jersey’s lineup, they simply can’t afford to have the most reliable piece slip up or go down hurt.
Secondly, while the Devils will look for more offence as mentioned above, if it doesn’t come, they’re doomed. The Devils can’t make the playoffs scoring the fewest amount of goals in the league, as they did in 2015-16.
