The best way to describe the New Jersey Devils is Metropolitan Marauders.
The best way to describe the New Jersey Devils is Metropolitan Marauders.
Picked to finish second ahead of the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and New York Islanders, coach Lindy Ruff's sextet visit UBS Arena tomorrow night is more a puzzle than anything else.
At 1-1-1. they're a mere momentary disappointment to their Garden State followers.
But don't be deceived. They opened last season like a guy on a cockamamie see-saw and soon emerged as one of the dream teams of 2022-23.
It took them a while to find the right gear, and then zoomed to the NHL heights, even knocking off the Rangers in the playoffs.
On paper, they loom as an even better team with the addition of Jumpin' Jack Hughes' kid brother, Luke, on defense.
Ask the brothers -- both Jack in Jersey and Quinn in Vancouver -- and they'll tell you that Large Luke eventually will become a better all-round player than the older siblings.
No question, though, offense is what New Jersey is all about, and that includes Timo Meier, Tyler Toffoli, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer; just for starters.
"They may be the fastest team in the league," opined Sam Nestler in The Hockey News Yearbook. "Captain Hischer leads the way, playing near-perfect two-way hockey."
Fair enough, but there's more to the Devils than offense, and therein lie the questions -- or, if you will -- issues. Here's how one scout put it after watching two games:
"Their goalie situation could be a problem, and I'm not so sure about the defense. This much is certain; they're not going to sneak up on everyone like they did last season. The league is ready for them. Teams will bring their A-game to them every time.
"Finally, their third and fourth lines need to step up. They'll miss Tatar for the locker room"
As for the Islanders, after watching the Orange and Blue against Buffalo, another scout liked the way the Nassaumen jumped into the lead.
The Scout's report: "The Devils looked like world-beaters and then stopped playing. Buffalo tied it 2-2, but the Isles squeezed out a win, 3-2, although they should have smoked the Sabres."
The good news is that they're two and oh, and could stretch it to three and oh if they play smart against New Jersey and skate with the Garden State speedsters.