Many people, myself included, thought this was finally going to be the year that Martin Brodeur began to show his age and the Devils finally took a step backwards. Of course, I also thought the Leafs’new look defensive corps was the answer to all their problems. Not only are the Devils one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference for yet another season, they landed the big fish at the trade deadline, netting Ilya Kovalchuk from the Atlanta Thrashers and giving them the first true offensive superstar they have had in quite some time.
Offense:B-
This grade is more reflective of the firepower that the Devils possess after dealing for Kovalchuk than their season as a whole. With just over 200 goals, the Devils rank in the bottom 3rd of the league in total offense, but Kovalchuk adds a whole new dimension to their game. Zach Parise has proven himself to be one of the top young centers in this league, and Travis Zajac gives them a great second line center. Jamie Langenbrunner seems to have gotten better with age, but it tails off a little bit after that, although what else would you expect from a Jacques Lemaire-coached Devils team? Kovalchuk and Parise are both point-per-game players, and have the kind of offensive firepower that can take over a game at any time. Adding that type of offense to the stifling defense that the Devils play should prove to be a winning combination in the postseason.
Defense: A+ When the Devils hired Jacques Lemaire as their head coach for the 2009-10 season, forwards in the Atlantic Division all got a queasy feeling in their stomachs. Lemaire has long been considered one of the top defensive coaches in the NHL, and the Devils are notorious for being stingy about giving up goals. True to form, New Jersey leads the league in fewest goals allowed,and whoever draws them in the playoffs will have their work cut out for them.
Goaltending: A Brodeur may have been a little bit shaky for Team Canada at the Olympics, but he has been nothing short of impressive in his 16th season with the Devils. With a league-leading 41 wins, a 2.35 GAA and a .914 save percentage, Brodeur’s numbers look just about the same as they have for the last 4 years. Throw in his meltdown in Game 7 of the Devils’ series with Carolina last year and the fact that he was replaced as his country’s starting goalie in Vancouver, and the best goalie in history may be going into this postseason with a sizeable chip on his shoulder. Look out.
Special Teams: B+ The Devils rank in the top half of the league on both sides of the man advantage, with a 82.6% PK rate and a powerplay that converts on nearly 1 in every 5 chances. Kovalchuk is a huge addition to the powerplay. He’s got one of the best shots in the league, great speed and fantastic hands. Opposing teams would be wise not to get into penalty trouble against the Devils, even if their regular season stats don’t scream “danger” very loudly.