New Jersey Devils notes: On crease crashers, Siegenthaler regaining old form, and more

Cotter and Noesen have done exactly what they were brought in to do. Plus, thoughts on strong play from Siegenthaler and shot contributions data.

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Here are a few New Jersey Devils notes as we await their return to action:

Crease crashers

One of the things Tom Fitzgerald emphasized during the off-season was diversifying the team’s attack.

The Devils are as dangerous as anybody on the rush and counter-attack but they needed a little more meat and potatoes in the offensive zone.

Fitzgerald paid premiums to address those needs, signing Stefan Noesen to a lucrative deal in free agency while parting with Alex Holtz – a top-10 pick in 2020 – in a deal to land Paul Cotter.

The hope was that those two could help the Devils forecheck more effectively, win battles along the wall, and pounce on pucks in high-danger areas to give the Devils some more dirty offense. That’s exactly what they’ve done thus far.

Noesen ranks 14th on the Devils in 5v5 time on ice through two games. Guess who sits atop the food chain in terms of scoring chances and high-danger opportunities.

Cotter has played a little more than Noesen, sitting 12th on the Devils in 5v5 ice time. He ranks 2nd on the team in scoring chances and high-danger opportunities.

As fate would have it, both players have scored a goal at 5v5 – and both of said goals came below the hashmarks. Imagine that.

These two aren’t going to fill the net all the time, of course, but they’ve been exactly what the Devils hoped they’d be – and they’re much better for it.

Siegenthaler regaining old form