How can the New Jersey Devils Fix the Slow Start?

Overtime Heroics Editorial

2160 days ago

The Devils would open their season against the Winnipeg Jets and have a 4-0 lead, they would then lose 5-4 in a shootout. The Devils would lose their next game against the Buffalo Sabres. They would also be shutout by the Philadelphia Flyers. New Jersey would once again lose, this time to the Edmonton Oilers in a shootout. This is not at all the start the Devils were looking to have, so how can they turn their season around? Here are five things New Jersey could do to turn their season around and make the playoffs.

The New Jersey Devils made a lot of additions during the off-season. They acquired P.k. Subban from the Nashville Predators, they selected Jack Hughes with the 1st overall pick, and they signed unrestricted free agent Wayne Simmonds to a one year deal. The Devils would then trade for Nikita Gusev from the Golden Knights. With all these additions, the Devils had high expectations heading into the 2019-20 season.

The Faulty Start

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY – SEPTEMBER 21: Jesper Boqvist #90 of the New Jersey Devils (C) celebrates his second goal of the game which became the game winner at 15:57 of the third period on the powerplay against the New York Islanders at the Prudential Center on September 21, 2019 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils defeated the Islanders 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

5. Play a Full 60 Minutes

New Jersey has struggled this season during the third period, they play good for the first two periods, and they don’t play the same at all during the third period. They play slower and they struggle to find consistency and they have no killer instinct to put the game away. It seems as if they have no “excitement” to go after the puck.

4. Motivation

Their offense just lacks motivation and they don’t push hard enough, If they push harder they’ll win way more games. On the ice, many players just dump the puck in and don’t look for any options and just skate to the bench. This needs to change as they just give the puck away.

3. Solid Special Teams

During the 2018-19 season, the Devils only had 45 powerplay goals on 255 powerplay opportunities, which was a percentage of 17.6%, ranking them at the 17th powerplay in the NHL. Improving your powerplay can go a long way to help a team. As of October 12th, before any games, the Devils are dead last in the NHL for the penalty-kill. With a 46.2% on it, they leave much to be desired, and that needs to change fast.

2. Give Hall More Time on Ice

Taylor Hall is the Devils best player, He won the 2017-18 Hart Trophy, which is awarded to the M.V.P. of the NHL. Hall only averages 19 minutes of ice time per game. I know that seems like a lot, but New Jersey would be much more successful if they gave Hall 23 minutes per game, He finished with 39 goals and 93 points during the 2017-18 season in only 76 games. Giving a player like that an extra six to ten minutes per game can make a big difference, It would definitely bring much more success to New Jersey if they gave him more ice time.

1. Fire Coach Hynes

They need a new coach. John Hynes has been the head coach of the Devils since the 2015-16 season, Hynes has a record of 141-148-43. Many NHL fans are noticing that he’s mixing up the lines badly. For instance he put Jack Hughes on the third line, he scratched Jesper Boqvist, and put Nikita Gusev on the third line. Many fans are realizing he’s making bad decisions. It’s starting to look like the Devils might be better off firing him and getting a new head coach, they could be much more successful without Hynes. Would this work for the New Jersey Devils?

What do you think the devils can do to turn their season around? comment down below!

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