What I'd like to see from each New Jersey Devils defender in 2021
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Monday I went player by player and shared what I’d like to see from each forward on the New Jersey Devils in 2021.
Today, I’ll be doing the same for the defensive group. I’ve focused on, in my opinion, the seven players most likely to make the team.
Damon Severson - Playing free. It felt like Severson was on a short leash for most, if not all, of John Hynes’ tenure with the team. That changed when Alain Nasreddine took over as the interim coach; and Severson flourished. He played with more freedom with the puck on his stick. At the same time, he showed more confidence and assertiveness without the puck. Severson still had tough moments at times, but CJ Turtoro made a compelling case he legitimately played at the level of a top pairing guy. I want to see more of the same this season. I want him getting up as the 4th man in Lindy Ruff’s up-tempo system, and I want him to stretch defenses by making some of those patented multi-zone passes he used to spring the likes of Jesper Bratt and Kyle Palmieri for breakaway goals last season.
Ryan Murray - Good health. Seriously, that’s all I want from Murray. The numbers suggest he is a very good defender. I’ve talked to a couple NHL front office members who are quite high on him as well. Not just for his defensive play, but underrated puck-moving ability. The Devils desperately need somebody with those traits who can provide some stability. I think Murray can. The key is being available. If he can stay healthy, he could be one of the team’s more important skaters.
P.K. Subban - Gas in the tank. Subban’s debut season with the Devils was a big disappointment. He didn’t move the puck all that well at 5v5, his skating didn’t have the same kind of explosiveness we’re used to seeing, and he wasn’t able to produce with any sort of efficiency on the power play. It was not surprising that he took a step back. What was surprising was the extent of it. While Subban’s best days are very clearly behind him, he is only 31 and two years removed from a 59 point season. There should still be some juice left. Subban just had the longest off-season of his career to get his body right and bring it out. Let’s see if there is a useful player in there.
Will Butcher - Finding old form. Butcher was fantastic on the man advantage as a rookie. Riding shotgun for Taylor Hall’s MVP season helped, of course, but Butcher more than held his own on the top unit. He finished with a PP GAR of +3.1, which is truly fantastic. It dipped in 2018-19 to +2.2 but that was still good for 22nd in the league among defenders. Last year a switch flipped, and not a good one. Butcher dropped from +2.2 to MINUS-2.6. Minus! You know where that ranked him? Dead last in the NHL. So, Butcher went from a top-25 power play quarterback in consecutive years to the worst in the league. The Devils have enough talent to put together competent units without him being elite, but if Butcher can get back to above average that would really help. The Devils are going to need good special teams if they have any chance of surprising in an ultra tough division.
Dmitry Kulikov - Sound defense. I don’t think Kulikov is all that good. It’s not because he can’t defend, though. It’s because while he neuters other offenses, he does the same (or more) to his own team. He wasn’t brought in to provide offense, though. The Devils have enough puck movers and offensively inclined defensemen – especially if Ty Smith is ready – that they can afford to sacrifice a spot on a defense-only guy. And that’s all I want Kulikov to be. If he can limit shots/chances and help defend the front of the net, I’ll be happy. But he needs to hold his own defensively because he is going to provide absolutely nothing offensively. If his defensive game, for whatever reason, falls off, he is going to be a big detriment to the team.
Ty Smith - Don’t play afraid. Smith is a highly touted 1st round pick. He won WHL defenseman of the year twice, CHL defenseman of the year once, and has a World Junior gold in his trophy collection. He has enjoyed a ton of success playing a certain way, and I don’t think he should change one bit while trying to make the jump. I know he was surly disappointed not making the team last season but he should still have all the confidence in the world. I don’t want to see him playing things safe or sitting back in obvious pinch situations because he is afraid to make a mistake. I want him playing his game. This season, as much as anything, is about development for the team’s young core. You get better by trying things and learning what does/doesn’t work. Activate and join the rush as the 4th man. Make skill plays. If they don’t work, you have a pair of excellent goaltenders playing behind you. The Devils haven’t had a blueliner with Smith’s potential in a long time. They need to unleash him; not rein him in. He doesn’t need to play a simple game like a 36-year-old who has hands of stone and can barely skate.
Connor Carrick - Surprise me. Carrick is an interesting player. I’ve always felt he had more talent than most 3rd pair/7th defenders, but his results have consistently aligned with those types. At this point I’ve sort of pulled back expectations and accepted that, for one reason or another, we’re not going to get more from him. But I’d love to be wrong. Carrick is only a year older than Butcher. It is not like he is an old-timer. A few years back he put up 42 points in the AHL, and followed it up by scoring 10 goals in 47 games the next year. He does have some talent. Maybe he can be one of those late bloomers that finally figures it out and offers more in a new system. Here’s hoping.
numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com and Evolving-Hockey.com
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