What needs to be fixed next year

Équipe: 2022-23 Devils du New Jersey

Date de création initiale: 21 avr. 2022

Publié: 22 avr. 2022

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

Devils finish the season bottom 10 in the league against but this year, the team looks better than where they are in the standings. Devils are near the middle of the league (Tied 16th) in goals for, and that is with Hughes and Hamilton having significant injuries this season. With healthy Hughes, Hamilton and Holtz being called up, they should be higher next year. The big problem is goaltending. Devils rank bottom 5 (Tied 5th) in goals against and dead last in goals saved above expected. Main reason for goaltending struggles is injuries. Blackwood and Bernier both missed a majority of the season. Devils had to rely on a 21 year old Nico Daws to help them win games.

Goaltending
Devils need a good, reliable goaltender to head into the season with. There are a ton of options internally and through free agency. I listed a bunch of option in the goalie section that the Devils could be interested in. Im leaning toward Kuemper right now but I assume the Avalanche resign him in the offseason. Another scenario is trading Zacha for Samsonov and then rolling with a tandem of Blackwood/Samsonov for the season. if one of them struggles, call up Daws.

Coaching Staff
Fire Lindy Ruff and Mark Recchi
Devils have a both 5 powerplay despite all of their talent offensively. We haven't scored a powerplay goal since Hughes has gotten injured which is unacceptable. Plus Devils have allowed the most shorthanded goals in the league. Lindy Ruff is not a good fit for the Devils coach. He doesn't have the fast, high paced system that would best fit the Devils. Along with that, his wonky line combos and his inability to own up to mistakes is the reason he should be gone ASAP. Not sure who they would bring in but maybe Kevin Dineen who has done a terriffic job in Utica this year