On a balanced defense, encouraging signs from the Hughes line, and more

The New Jersey Devils are off to a strong start and their reshaped blueline is a big reason why.

Follow along on Twitter @ToddCordell | @InfernalAccess

Be sure to join the Discord channel to talk hockey with our writers and subscribers.

---

A few New Jersey Devils notes on this off-day:

Balanced defence key to success 🔑

Tom Fitzgerald did a great job of adding depth and differing elements to the squad in the off-season.

It’s paying dividends early as the Devils are off to a strong 8-5-2 start and own a +11 goal differential despite, at times, shaky goaltending from their veteran netminders.

One of the keys to their success – especially of late – is the balance of the blueline and the contributions they’ve been getting from all three pairings.

Jonas Siegenthaler and Johnathan Kovacevic have continued to provide rock-solid defense no matter the opponent.

Of the 76 pairings that have logged 80+ 5v5 minutes league-wide, only seven have limited expected goals better than Siegenthaler and Kovacevic.

A chunk of them play lower in the lineup and/or see heavily sheltered minutes.

What’s crazy is the Devils have another pairing not far behind. Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce sit 12th in expected goals against/60 and have performed well at both ends, helping the team control better than 56% of the xG share.

Hughes’ dynamic skating and puck-moving has allowed the Devils to exit their own zone in a hurry while Pesce’s in-zone defense has been exactly as advertised. They’ve made for a great match.

Meanwhile, the Brenden Dillon - Dougie Hamilton pairing finds itself at the other end of the spectrum. They have provided the Devils with serious juice offensively. They’ve generated 3.73 xGF/60, which ranks them 7th among 76 eligible pairings.

Some of the notable they’ve bested: Thomas Harley-Miro Heiskanen, Mattias Ekholm-Evan Bouchard, and Quinn Hughes-Filip Hronek. Yeah.

The Dillon - Hamilton pairing has perhaps given up more defensively than you’d like but the good has still outweighed with the bad. Not to mention, the Devils can live with it given how stout their other pairings have been.

On paper, the Devils appear to have one of the best and deepest bluelines in the league. That has proven to be the case and is a big reason why the Devils are where they are (and have allowed just five goals over the last four games).

The breakout is coming 📈