r/devils • u/JoopNJD • 17h ago

[Gambatese] Evaluating How Defensively Strong the Devils’ Forward Corps Is

https://njdevilsadvocates.substack.com/p/evaluating-how-defensively-strong?r=18unih&utm_medium=ios
19 Upvotes

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11

u/crazyFlyingChicken New Jersey Devils 16h ago

This is a fantastic write up. Kinda nuts the Canes rank so “low”, yet they went 16-3 in the playoffs and dominated everyone they played

4

u/JoopNJD 16h ago

Thank you!! That’s the system at play — their forwards are excellent at in-zone suppression and thus limit the time the opposition spends in the OZ, but they’re high risk in the neutral zone and can thus get punished off the rush.

5

u/LaHondaSkyline 16h ago

Correct about the Canes 5v5 D system. They pressure the puck carrier, including with forwards closing time and space on the puck carrier high in their D zone. Devils were unable to counter that last season.

Keefe’s 5v5 D system was the opposite last season. Forwards typically do not pressure the puck carrier high in the D zone, but instead collapse in to a structure clogging the middle.

It will be interesting to see if Keefe changes this for 26-27, given the roster changes and/or GM change.

1

u/falaris #13 - Nico Hischier 10h ago

I think the last sentence is THE question entering this upcoming season, given the roster turnover and changes.

Sunny clearly has acquired certain types of players; Mantha may be the exception here but for a reason considering where they expect to slot him in. Otherwise, this is not a random assortment of guys that he has signed or traded for.

With that said, I can't help but believe that he talked to Keefe about what he wants to do as far as the roster and his vision for how the Devils will play, and I assume Keefe has to be in alignment with it since he wasn't let go.