Give the Offense Time
After a successful road trip, the New Jersey Devils return to Newark with a 3-2 record, hung in with one of the elite teams by beating the Washington Capitals in a shootout, and eased some of the anxieties that formed after a turbulent 0-2 start. As civility surfaces in Devil Land, it’s evident some problems still persist early into the season. Before I stress, note I’ve yet to develop any legitimate concerns for the team. The Devil’s 2009-2010 campaign is only five games old, and although I’ll admit I’m guilty of doing so, I ultimately don’t understand why fans started jumping ship after an 0-2 start. There was a lot to criticize the team on as far as their play was concerned, but not to the point of saying they’ll tank and miss the playoffs.
So five games in, the Devils haven’t scored more than three goals in regulation, totaling twelve goals since the season commenced, averaging 2.4 goals per game. While I don’t want to say scoring will be an issue this year…yet I’ve taken notice to the sparing production thus far, while division rivals such as the Rangers and Flyers seem to be putting the puck in the net without breaking a sweat. Like I said, the season is still maturing as teams and players continue to get a feel for each other, adjusting or readjusting to their roles, and developing or renewing ways to produce consistent chemistry, which doesn’t appear to be happening instantaneously for the Devils. Any player that scores a goal or goes on a point streak in the first five or ten games will look appealing and turn heads, as will any team that gets off to a good start, while teams or players starting poorly will get shunned or alienated from the spotlight. That’s how I feel about the current teams and players now, whereas if they continue what they’re doing twenty games in, that’s when you know whose likely for real and who isn’t…and for the record, I’m not trying to make any excuses about the Devils play or denying credit to the teams and players that are enjoying a good start to the season.
Last year, the Devils averaged 2.0 goals per game in their first five, increased to 3.1 after ten, 3.0 after twenty, finishing the season with an average of 2.9 goals per game. In 2007-2008, the Devils averaged 2.6 goals in their first five games, descended to 2.2 after ten, averaged 2.5 after twenty, and 2.4 goals for the entire season. In 2006-2007, the Devils averaged 3.4 goals in their first five, 2.7 after ten, 2.5 in their first twenty, and 2.5 goals per game for the season. What I’m getting at is the Devils seem to show what type of output to expect after about twenty games into the season, when it can be determined whether or not offense will be an issue or if the team’s in any sort of trouble. Note the difference in average goals per each year has after five, ten, and twenty games. Agree, disagree, criticize, make excuses, this is what I’m interpreting from the numbers, which I’m trying to use to prove nobody should be this conclusive about this team this early in the season.
For whatever reasons, offense will probably be a problem if the Devils are late on or unable to develop consistent chemistry, resulting in players unable to fulfil their roles and the team relying on a mediocre defense and aging goaltender to bail them out every night. When people say this summer’s losses and the Lemaire hiring will affect their scoring, I see where they’re getting at, but humbly disagree. Like I said in previous write ups, the team really lost a few fan favorites and team faces more than actual skill. Between Brian Gionta, John Madden, Mike Rupp, Brendan Shanahan, and Bobby Holik, that’s 40 goals lost with Gionta accountable for half. Since Rupp, Shanahan, and Holik played fourth line roles throughout the season, while Madden scored only seven, I think the Devil’s chances of replacing those 40 goals are a little more realistic than it seems. I’m sure between Pierre Luc-Letourneau Leblond, Ilkka Pikkarainen, and Rob Niedermayer, they can at least combine for the thirteen their predecessors tallied last year, possibly including Madden’s output if Niedermayer can match his numbers from last year. I see no reason why Niclas Bergfors can’t score at least 10-15 if or when he gets going, while a rebound season from Rolston, healthy return of Patrik Elias, and continuous improvement from Travis Zajac and Zach Parise pick up the remaining slack. Impossible? No. Definite? No. I’m simply speculating.
Lemaire is still reputed as a defensive minded coach with a lust to extinguish his team’s offensive capabilities by forcing an implementation of his infamous 1-2-2. Lemaire’s said countless times he’s bothered by his reputation and even said the 1-2-2 isn’t the system he wants this team to play. I’ve seen the Devils fall into a trap at times during the preseason and regular season, which Lemaire scolded them for. In response, Lemaire figured it was an old habit he’s trying to remove from his team’s play, although I recall the Devils were seldom caught unnecessarily trapping last year, at least as the season went on. While he wants defense to be a priority, Lemaire knows the Devils can score and while I’m sure he’s trying to stabilize their defensive game, don’t think he’s trying to by deliberately cutting their offensive productivity.
Basically, what I’ve tried to explain is while some teams are off to a fast start and prospering in all playing categories, some are taking longer to get their act and game together, which the Devils seem to be one of. Although I acknowledge the current scarcity of offensive production, it’s too early to say it’ll be a problem throughout the season or lead to the Devil’s first losing season in over a decade. Try to stay patient, optimistic, realistic, and know there’s still 77 games left to play, where anything can happen and nothing’s definite or guaranteed. That’s probably why Lou (I know…Lou) isn’t gutting the core or looking to address any needs the team seems to have at this time, although regardless of what rumors persist or people say, I’ll always remain skeptical about Lou and splashing until I actually see it for myself, which is a topic for another write up for another time.
Some league thoughts…
Despite what I said earlier, I have to say I think Matt Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto of the New York Rangers are legit. If the continue playing the way they are and keep improving, they’re going to instill a presence on the Ranger’s defense they haven’t had in a long time…and I recall last summer I said Ranger fans shouldn’t give up on Wade Redden, who I think’s in for a rebound season. He won’t get ten goals and sixty points, but will definitely prove he’s more capable than what he appeared to be last year.
In response to Eklund’s rumor about the 2011 Outdoor Classic being held in Minnesota, I’ve always thought Minnesota would be an appropriate place to hold it and want to throw an idea I have that I once described in a MyHockeybuzz write up of mine…Why not stick to Minnesotan tradition and have the game on one of their frozen lakes: The first official NHL pond hockey game. It’d be hard to pull off and a lot of factors need to be level with one another, but I think it could work if it’s planned properly.
Over the past few years, I’ve heard about the possibilities of seeing expansion or relocated teams in various cities. A few that I heard more than once were a second team in Toronto, Hamilton, Las Vegas, and Kansas City. Out of those four cities, where do you think an expansion or team relocated will have the best chance of generating the most economic success and draw the most crowds? Originally, I thought it was a no brainer, but now I’m reconsidering. Another hypothetical situation I once brought up in a MyHockeybuzz write up was what people thought of putting a team in Alaska. I know hockey’s big there, a few players in the NHL are native to the state, and while it isn’t a major state that has no major cities, do you think an NHL team would fare well in a city like Anchorage?
