Four things I'd like to see from the New Jersey Devils down the stretch
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More from Mackenzie Blackwood
What a roller coaster ride this season has been. Blackwood started it in spectacular fashion, putting up insanely good numbers on a nightly basis and holding the Boston Bruins to zero even-strength goals through their first few meetings.
Then, COVID hit. Blackwood was MIA for more than the usual two weeks. He mentioned, as someone who is asthmatic, that he was hit pretty hard. It was easy to believe him with the way he struggled coming out of the COVID-induced pause, allowing 3+ goals like clockwork.
It looked like he found his footing in mid-to-late March. Clearly not, as he has dropped all seven starts in April and conceded at least four goals in five of them. Not great!
Now, the defense has not made it easy on him. While they’ve done a good job of suppressing volume, the blueline is still a little too prone to the big mistake. But, even so, much more should be expected of Blackwood.
Earlier in the year I thought he had a legitimate case to be one of Team Canada’s top two goaltenders. Top two! As in, dressed each game. Even being in the conversation seems far fetched now. Blackwood owns a .900 SV%, has allowed 7.8 goals above expectation, and doesn’t have the reputation or experience many of his counterparts carry.
I don’t expect him to solve all of his issues, and magically turn into a world beater down the stretch, but it sure would be nice to see him get back on track.
Clinical finishing
The Devils have some frustrating tendencies. Perhaps none more so than their inability to capitalize on chances. It’s been a problem all season long; and a big one at that.
New Jersey ranks 8th in Expected Goals at 5v5. They’re very, very, good at generating quality chances. Converting them? Not so much.
That’s why they sit 23rd in 5v5 goals. So, 8th in Expected Goals; 23rd in actual goals. They’re 15 spots lower than they would be if all shooting talent was equal.
Obviously, that’s not the case. The Devils rank 26th in 5v5 shooting percentage; hardly surprising given Kyle Palmieri was their most natural finisher and even he struggled to convert this season.
Like Blackwood, I don’t imagine a complete 180 is in the cards. It’d be nice to see the Devils be a little more opportunistic, though.
More opportunity for Nolan Foote
One game is one game but he came out ~even in shot share and picked up a nice assist in his NHL debut. Foote has an NHL-ready body, he is a sneaky passer, and he can really shoot the puck. His skating could use a bit of work and there’s room to grow defensively but I think there’s enough there to handle himself right now.
As mentioned above, New Jersey isn’t exactly overflowing with finishers and they don’t have many guys in the organization of Foote’s archetype.
Getting him up and running so he can come into next season with some experience, and confidence, should be among the top priorities for Lindy Ruff and his coaching staff.
Even if not for the entirety of a game, I’d like to see him get more reps with Nico Hischier in the coming weeks. Let Foote play with a slick passer and someone defensively responsible who can help make his life a little easier.
Give him a real chance to prove himself.
Signs of life on special teams
New Jersey’s special teams are catastrophically bad. From start to finish, there hasn’t been one stretch of games where both the power play and penalty kill were clicking. Heck, it’s rare even one of them is.
The power play ranks 30th in chance generation, and 29th in goals, on a per 60 basis. I know the Devils aren’t loaded with elite finishers but I’d expect more considering Jack Hughes is a chance creating wizard, Kyle Palmieri has a long history of elite PP production, Ty Smith looks like a 10-year veteran with the puck in the offensive zone, and so forth. There was enough there to at least look decent; and perhaps even score a goal or two. Hasn’t happened.
Meanwhile, no team has allowed more power play goals than the Devils. The Devils rank near the bottom of the barrel in suppressing high-danger chances, and they haven’t threatened with the puck either.
The Devils have seven Grade A chances on the PK this year. Seven. In 44 games! They have a league-low 23 shorthanded shots, too. They don’t kill penalties. They survive them and, unfortunately, not at a good rate.
Sure, the Devils sold some reliable PKers and there are lots of kids on the roster. I don’t really care. There will be lots of kids on next season’s team, too. Find a way to get some results.
numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com and MoneyPuck.com
The depth of the drop-off in their special teams this year is absolutely insane. They were never a playoff team, but it would have been a heck of a lot closer if they were even average on both sides. I know they want some continuity on the staff but I really don't know how they can run the same coaches back with the results they generated. They cant possibly be any worse on special teams next year, so would canning Recchi and Nas really be that disruptive?
No Smith, Blackwood, Zacha, Bratt. Gonna be ugy