August is not kind to hockey fans. There is no player movement, the hype has died down, and new content, short of our incredibly creative and masterfully over-produced Uncle Pucker show of course, is hard to come by.
But August, to me, is the time to get excited. August means one more month. Just 30 more days before the calendar turns to September, and fall teases us with the occasional cool breeze. Then we really get those hockey feels again.
So, I say, it’s time to get excited! Here are nine reasons why Devils fans should want to count down the days to October:
Reason 1, Line 1: Bratt-Hughes-Meier. Let the salivating begin! I know, that’s a lot of firepower jammed on one line, but I am a firm believer that, if they can finally find chemistry, Meier was born to play with Jack (and as a RW). Dropping this kind of power forward, who can score with them best of them, offer protection, and drive play in with a different look, into the mix with the dynamic combo of Bratt and Hughes could provide offense we haven’t seen since the ‘A” line was tearing up the NHL in the early 2000’s. I get this line can be considered unbalanced with such a focus on offense, but opponents will have a catch Jack and Jesper, while still committing a man to Timo; I’ll take the odds over 20 minutes a night.
Reason 2, Line 2: Tatar-Hischier-Mercer. Admittedly, I am relying heavily of a repeat of the production, chemistry, and frankly, overall magic, this trio showed for parts of the record breaking 2022-2023 season. Here, you have the ever-consistent overall game, and underrated offensive ability of our captain, coupled with two guys that excelled on his wings. It’s not always about the sexiest lines, but getting the most out of each player. Nearly 69% of Tatars points in that season came playing with Nico. And who can forget Dawson’s 8-game goal scoring streak, and 12 overall points, that started after he was also paired with Hischier. Mercer’s career high 27 goals came with some consistent top line minutes, and I see no reason our newest iron man can’t graduate to a regular shift up there, and score 30. Obviously, these first two lines lend to some borrowing from each other, so shake-ups will happen, but if jack and company can do their thing, throwing this type of second line out next is a recipe for success; they can shut down an opponent or drive offense, and if they get the majority of the opponents “second defensive pairing”, all the better.
Reasons 3, Line 3: Palat-Haula-Noesen. For my money, third lines are where championship teams are born. I eagerly await seeing how opponents match up against the energy, forecheck and grit this trio will offer after dealing with the speed and skill of the aforementioned top two lines. In a clearly defined role like this, I fully expect the "warrior" in Palat to final surface. Couple him with two guys that are built for third line responsibilities, while fully capable of lighting the lamp 15 or so times each, and we begin to see the big picture of our forward group balance emerge.
Reason 4, Line 4: Cotter-Lazar-Bastian/MacDermid. It is hard to put into words what this line means to the Devils this year. How about I steal a line from the otherwise forgettable, Rocky V, “Hey, you knocked him down, why don’t you try knocking me down now?”. A sizable line at 6’2”, 213 lbs, 6’0” 203 lbs and 6’4” 205 lbs – and that is with Bastian in - toss in MacDermid, and the size on LW expands to 6’5”, 233 lbs. We all know Lazar is a spark plug, capable of driving play and scoring some clutch goals. A player of his caliber this deep on the fourth line warrants excitement even if you just plugged in “any odd player” on his wings. But we don’t have just any odd players. Paul Cotter, the soon-to-be fan favorite, is a hard-hitting, puck-hogging, fore-checker with speed and underestimated hands. Bastian offers a more traditional forward package than MacDermid, but they both bring a different welcomed element to the game in limited minutes. And, side note, let’s not forget about the looming Nolan Foote. I remain bullish on this kid. If healthy, and given a chance to play, he could be our best option as the 4th line LW. By mid-year.
Reasons 5-7, Defensive Pairings 1-3: Siegenthaler-Hamilton. Hughes-Pesce. Dillon-Nemec. There is definitely some debate on positioning here. “If Pesce is our best shut down guy shouldn’t he be on the first pair?”. Maybe… but remember, this is also about getting the best out of each player. From a high-level view, we have all defenders slotted to their strength side, and within each pair, there will be clearly defined roles. Seigenthaler, when instructed to simplify his defensive game is more than capable of shutting down top offensive lines, and the chemistry he had with Hamilton was undeniable. Having the steady presence of Pesce alongside the dynamic Luke Hughes, who is also growing into his defensive self, is a dream second pairing. Round the defense out with the huge frame of stay-at-home Brendan Dillion, a man as eager to block shots as he is to drop the gloves, providing space for another up and coming offensive dynamo in Nemec, and you may have one of the deepest defenses we’ve seen since our last Stanley Cup. Behind them, Kovacevic and DeSimone offer some nice insurance.
Reason 8, Goalie Tandem: Markstrom-Allen. Let’s cut to the chase, our goaltending was so awful last year, any mid-tier upgrade would improve the team’s overall success. Stop the shots you should stop, and the domino effect throughout the lineup is undeniable. We got a taste of Jake Allen as a Devil last year. He was flashy at times, but moreover, he was a consistent performer on a bad team… Stop the shots you should stop. In Markstrom, we gain a top tier net minder capable of stopping more than the routine; this guy is money stopping what he shouldn’t. As per NHL EDGE stats: Markstrom led the NHL in high-danger save percentage (.857) last season with the Calgary Flames and was tied for fifth in high-danger saves (359). With the Devils puck possession style of play, and revamped defense, I’d safely place this tandem in top 5 of the league. “1-0 them” should be mostly a thing of the past.
Reason 9, coach: Sheldon Keefe. I firmly believe Keefe will bring out the best in our players, add more stability to the system (and lines), and demand more accountability than we have seen in recent years. The guy has been a proven winner his whole career, can work with super talented forwards, and has never had a back-end capable of producing what the Devils should be able to do. This new voice will be the perfect fit for a maturing Devils team ready to take the next step into constant contention.
Be excited Devils fan… just get through August.