Devils Start Season 0-2. Time to Panic?

The NJ Devils have started this season uncharacteristically with 2 loses to arch-rivals Flyers and Rangers. The Philadelphia Flyer game was a total fiasco with all-time leading goaltender, Martin Broduer, seeming to be doing his best impersonation of a bull-fighter saying ole’ to the puck as it went by him into the net 5 times. The Devils looked every bit of a team in transition with a new coach, Jacques Lemaire, 5 rookies and several more new faces such as defenseman Cory Murphy and veteran Rob Niedermayer.

The Devils put on a relatively better performance against the Rangers last night at the Rock, coming up short, 3-2, with once again, a “bad” goal let in by Marty. Panic is spreading through the world of Devils’ fans leading to suggestions of replacing the coach, mixing the lines up as well as bringing back Brendan Shanahan, who was released by the Devils for simply being too old to play on the top line anymore.

Q: So is it really time to panic?

A: I say not!

What I’ve seen from the Devils in the first 2 games is about what I would expect. Lemaire is trying to change the way former coach Sutter ran the team in some subtle, but difficult-to-learn new ways. He is changing the break-out of the defensive zone and is trying to get the defenders more involved in the offense. Last year, Devil defenders put in a paltry 19 goals for the entire season. That won’t win you a Stanley Cup and will likely find you out after playoff round one, exactly as happened to the Devils. In addition the Devils find themselves without arguably their best player and all-time leading scorer, Patrik Elias, for a few more weeks.

While an 0-2 record looks very bad, the Ranger game came down to Broduer letting in a softie, a 4th line which took 2 penalties in the 1st period and some officiating that didn’t go the Devils’ way. Change those 3 negatives or add a little puck luck and you’d have seen the Devils standing at 1-1.

On the positive side, we can realistically believe that Broduer will simply start being Brodeur again. We also can be very happy with the way free agent acquisition Rob Niedermayer has been playing. He looks like he’s going to help the team immensely this year. Add Elias back, figure out a workable 4th line, get the defenders on the attack, and have last years 45 goal scorer, Zach Parise, bury the biscuit a few times and I think you’ll see the Devils start to play descent hockey.

In the Devils’ own Atlantic division we can say the Stanley Cup Champion Penguins, the Flyers, and even the Rangers all seem to be improved. The real question at this point is whether Jacques Lemaire can work this Devils team into a Stanley Cup contender. The thought of whether the Devils can be that good this year brings much more a sense of panic to me that the worry over an 0-2 start.

Devils’ Defense Seems Set with Murphy

It is only one game into the Devils’ preseason, a 3-2 shoot out victory at home against the Rangers, and it seems the defensive lineup is set. The Devils, who typically carry 7 defensemen on the roster, will start the season with regulars from last season, Paul Martin, Johnny Oduya, Colin White, Mike Mottau, and Bryce Salvador. In addition, Andy Greene, who played 49 games in 2008-2009 is looking for more playing time. Greene is an adequate player who has excellent moments followed by poor decisions. His upside is limited but he is an adequate “7th” defender who can play on the power play.

The final position open on defense seems to belong to newcomer Cory Murphy, who played 6 season in Europe before coming here to play for Florida and Tampa Bay 2 years ago. Murphy signed a 2-way deal (allowing him to be moved to Lowell of the AHL without clearing waivers) with the Devils in July. It is no coincidence he is wearing #28 in training camp. It is a number worn by a player of similar height (small) and right-handed shot, Brian Rafalski. Rafalski was an all-star defender with Devils before signing with Detroit as a UFA a few years ago. Devils’ GM, Lou Lamoriello, loves to play the jersey number game with his players so when I saw 28 on Murphy, I thought immediately he was going to make the team. In overtime against the Rangers on Wednesday, it was Murphy who was on the ice as the lone defensmen on the Devils 4-3 power play. They didn’t score but Murphy surely looked like he belonged.

Some of the Devil’s faithful were hoping to see 21 year old Devils’ prospect Matt Corrente get a shot on defense. However it seems the Devils do not think he is ready. In fact it appears that 18 year old defensemen, Alexander Urbom has stolen the show in camp and won himself playing time against the Rangers and seems to be playing with the first squad in practice. He won’t make the team this year, but by the Devils giving him NHL time at camp and in preseason, clearly they think he will be the next defensive star for the Devils.

It was my analysis at the end of last season that the Devils needed a star/stud player on defense (sorry Paul Martin you are an excellent defender, but not a stud) to move to the next level. Corey Murphy is what the Devils have come up with to help their pp with a Right-handed shot. A poor man’s Brian Rafalski is not exactly what the Devils’ needed. However, in Devils’ land we say, “In Lou we trust.” No need to worry, the season hasn’t begun yet and Jacques will surely get us through anyway.