The Jack Hughes-led Devils have taken the subsequent step and are a critical contender for the Stanley Cup
NEWARK, N.J. — Patrik Elias has been a fixture with the New Jersey Devils for nearly 30 years and it didn’t take him lengthy to recall the final time there was this a lot pleasure coming right into a season.
“Turn of the century,” the franchise’s all-time chief in factors, targets and assists stated as he walked out of the Prudential Center after a latest coaching camp observe.
Y2K was a really memorable time in New Jersey. The Devils gained their second Stanley Cup championship with Elias and his “A Line” becoming a member of Hall of Famers Martin Brodeur, Scotty Stevens and Scott Niedermayer in beating Dallas within the ultimate. A yr later, New Jersey misplaced in seven video games to Colorado within the ultimate and two years later it earned a 3rd title beating Anaheim in seven video games.
Add within the 1995 championship and the last decade was zenith of the franchise.
With the exception of a visit to the Cup Final in 2012 for a loss to Los Angeles, these have been darkish occasions for the Devils. Between the 2012-13 season and 2021-22, they made the playoffs as soon as, and so they have been one of many league’s worst crew in ‘21-’22, accumulating 63 factors.
The Devils flipped the script final yr. After a season-opening two-game skid at dwelling had followers calling for the firing of coach Lindy Ruff, all the pieces modified. Jack Hughes and firm went 52-20-8 over the ultimate 80 video games and completed with a franchise-best 112 factors, third-best within the league.
New Jersey beat the New York Rangers within the opening spherical earlier than shedding to Carolina within the second.
“They made a big stride last year, you know, and we needed it,” stated Elias, who performed 20 seasons with the Devils. “It was right time for those guys who have been here for three or four years to take the next step and they did. Hopefully they can build on that because of the feeling they had, the potentials they have.”
Making the playoffs isn’t the aim this season. General supervisor Tom Fitzgerald, Ruff and Hughes need extra, much more. They need the Cup.
“We like where we’re at,” Fitzgerald stated. “The window is just opening up for this group. So it’s fun. It’s going to be hard to win, but it’s just a different feel this camp than it has been, for me anyway.”
Fitzgerald believes the Devils have the items wanted after spending the previous six years constructing a younger crew that’s among the many quickest within the NHL, each attacking and defending. They’ll even have defenseman Luke Hughes, Jack’s brother, for the entire season.
They drafted Nico Hischier (2017) and Hughes (‘19) with No. 1 general picks, took Dawson Mercer (‘18) and Luke Hughes (‘21) with first-round selections and located a gem in ahead Jesper Bratt in a decrease spherical. They acquired forwards Timo Meier and Erik Haula, defensemen Kevin Bahl and John Marino and goaltender Vitek Vanecek in trades, and signed Dougie Hamilton, Ondrej Palat and Tyler Toffoli as free brokers.
“Winning a Stanley Cup is extremely hard,’ Fitzgerald said. ”Only one crew can do it. So Cup or bust is one thing I don’t consider in. It’s simply have a crew that may problem to be one of many higher groups within the league from day one to coaching camp to at any time when that final playoff sport is.”
Ruff has had his crew flying throughout preseason practices. The exercises are intense and aggressive with fixed up-and-down-the-ice classes.
“We really can’t look back on last year anymore,” Ruff stated. “We know that we had a good year. We want to try to remain consistent and consistent means we want to be a good offensive team. We feel that’s our strength. We became a lot better defensive team. And I think we can we can get better in that area.”
The 22-year-old Jack Hughes laughs when he’s reminded he’s coming into his fifth NHL season. He is coming off a career-best 43 targets and franchise-record 99-point season, breaking Ellias’ mark.
“I think it’s only me, Bratter and Nico left,” Hughes stated of the turnover from his first season. “So for us to get where we have gotten to the second round I think we’ve done a great job. And, you know, we’re heading into the year probably with our best team yet, so I should be really exciting.”
The Devils have proven that within the preseason, outscoring their first six oopponents 27-13. Vanecek and Akira Schmid have offered consistency in aim, an ingredient that had been lacking for a decade. They will share the load this season, as a substitute of Vanecek (33-11-4) carrying the load till he ran out of fuel within the postseason.
“The expectations are within the locker room to raise the standard,” stated veteran ahead Curtis Lazar, a late-season acquisition. “We know teams are gunning for us. What this team did last year was pretty special. That’s behind us. And I think the belief in this room has been here for a couple of years now. We want to build off last year.”
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