Surprises for the New Jersey Devils: Both Happy and Sad For the New Jersey Devils in 2023–24, there have been a lot of surprises thus far, both positive and negative. Today, we examine their effects on the team and the potential effects of the pleasant surprises going forward.
The Surprises Thus Far, According to This Writer
Pleasant: Tyler Toffoli leads the team in goals scored and ranks third in scoring
I don’t think anyone anticipated Tyler Toffoli to score goals at the same rate as he did with the Calgary Flames the previous season when the Devils acquired him this summer. Although he isn’t technically (he is projected to score 64 points in 82 games as opposed to 73 last season), he has still been an incredibly valuable player for the Devils up to this point.
With his 21 points, he is alone in third place for overall scoring, and his 12 goals tie him with Jesper Bratt for the most on the squad. Although Toffoli hasn’t scored in the last six games, he is a known streaky player. He has been a little cold lately. Toffoli’s current slump could easily transition back into a scoring binge for him, meaning that if the Devils want to continue moving up the Metro, they’ll need him to maintain his current rate of scoring.
Adverse: Dougie Hamilton and His Team Are Tied for Fourth in Points
Although the Devils knew that was Hamilton’s best asset when they signed him back in the summer of 2021, I’m not surprised by his offensive output in this situation. The disappointing revelation in this situation is that Hamilton, who hasn’t played since November 28th, is still tied for fourth in team scoring.
Perhaps this is partly because two other prominent players on the team, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier, missed time as well. Although no one has quite reached the “consistent threat” level of Bratt and Jack Hughes, one would have hoped that some of the depth options would have stepped up.
Pleasant: Simon Nemec
Though unfortunate, Hamilton’s injury has been lessened by the addition of a heralded defender besides Luke Hughes. Even though he doesn’t always light up the scoreboard, Simon Nemec is a competent hockey player who already logs more than 20 minutes of ice time per game.
Furthermore, three points in six games isn’t bad at all—after 25 appearances, Nate Bastian is still dominating that exact stat line. Should I consider that a small, unpleasant surprise? Therefore, Nemec shouldn’t be held in low regard for that. The most favorable news? The Devils have gone 4-2-0 since Nemec was called up to the NHL; it’s not the best record, but Nemec has been a major factor in the team’s success most of the time.
Unpleasant: The Lack of Adjustment from the Coaches
This may be more of an eye-test or anecdotal assessment, but as the season has progressed, the Devils have found it difficult to come back from deficits in numerous defeats. Since it has continued, I don’t think this is a personnel issue; instead, it seems like a problem with coaches finding it difficult to adapt to different teams’ gameplans.
I’m not saying that each of the 31 teams needs a different plan, but why not have a backup plan in case one of the teams neutralizes the main one? The coaches’ only apparent strategy appears to be to “shuffle the lines and pray a different combination works,” which isn’t exactly a different game plan but can be helpful at times.
On the other hand, Lindy Ruff and his team deserve praise for the previous season. They ought to be uncomfortable about the team’s underperformance as well, especially Dave Rogalski.
Your Opinion
What do you think about this season’s surprises thus far? Are there any in particular that you agree or disagree with? Do you have any surprises about anything I left off this list? Please feel free to comment below, and as always, I appreciate you reading!.