From the various strengths and weaknesses within the Devils organization, I believe that scoring, winning faceoffs, and coaching are the keys to their success this upcoming season. Within scoring, I am also including scoring on the power play since they finished in the bottom of the league in that category. How is a team supposed to win a Stanley Cup by finishing practically dead last in home scoring in the entire National Hockey League? Even with a strong defensive strategy that has lasted the Devils until now, I don’t care. You need to score goals to win games, as simple as that sounds. If you want to keep the scoring low, which is considered difficult with the new rules in play, good luck, but ultimately you have to put the puck in the net.

Devils, you forced Martin Brodeur to play phenomenally throughout the playoffs, a difficult yet fitting task for such a player. Then again, the scoring was pitiful, forcing Brodeur into a difficult situation night after night against two of the top scoring teams in the east. Hats off to Ottawa as they finally made it to the finals and the same to Tampa for putting a strong fight before losing in six games.

The first key to this upcoming season is scoring, running the gamut from even strength to power plays and even short handed goals. Not surprisingly, the Devils clocked in at 27 categorically, yes 27 out of 30 teams in the regular season team scoring. If you think this past season was a flaw, maybe some players did not have such good seasons, guess again. Let me remind you of the Devils scoring ranks since 2000-2001 when they led the league in scoring that year. The following season they were 20th, then 14 for two seasons, 22 for a season, and then despicably, 27. Gary Bettman, my most hated Commissioner in any sport today, changed the rules to increase scoring and popularity among fans across the country. Ottawa led the way with a 3.63 goals per game this past year while Detroit scored 3.8 gpg two seasons ago, which was the highest total since the Devils in 00-01 with a 3.6gpg. The Devils however cannot find a way to solve their inability to score goals, especially with a paltry 216. New coach on the horizon? Brent Sutter?

Anaheim won the Stanley Cup this past season. They finished in the top ten in scoring while the East representative Ottawa finished number one as I mentioned earlier. I am definitely willing to say that a top ten scoring team will not necessarily win the Cup every year. I do believe that a combination of timely scoring and hard-hitting defense are keys. But the last time a team won the Cup while finishing 27th out of 30 teams, you will be searching a long time before realizing that the answer is never.

Without going into as much detail with power play and shorthanded goals for and against, I just would like to remind fans that the Devils went from the top ten in the first half in power play scoring to bottom half in the second half of the season. They were also in the top ten for shorthanded goals allowed, while only scoring four all season. Anyone remember John Madden when he had six in one season. That’s right- he did it years ago. Guys, giving up short handed goals is unacceptable, and maybe they can capitalize this year on their SH opportunities.

Faceoffs, winning more than fifty percent of them. I cannot forget how many key faceoffs there were in playoff games that the Devils were unable to win. The numbers speak for themselves. They were up against solid Senator and Lightning teams, who have several league leaders. But, the Devils have more experience in the playoffs, making it 17 out of the last 19 seasons, telling me that they should be able to win more than 50 percent of the face offs. However, the Devils were dead last in the regular season total FO won indicating that winning them in the post season was a long shot at best. Maybe, Lou was not such an idiot for the coaching change at the end of the season, even if he did not lead them to the promise land.

Brent Sutter, it is your turn in the rotation. Your responsibilities lie in the off season and in between games, strategizing, agonizing, and watching videos over and over again. I do not sit in your office every day watching over your shoulder, but coming to the Devils organization is definitely a major task in sports. In one of my previous blogs, I discussed the difficulty of lasting in New Jersey (I never reasoned that the Devils lack of hometown was the cause of many head coach vacancies). But, based on the lack of scoring and rather inconsistent play the last couple of seasons, the Devils have yet to win a Cup since 02-03. Sutter, you are our man, at least you are Lou’s man. Lou seems to know his coaches very well even if he was forced to fire a couple and watch others leave for Minnesota or Boston. From what I have been reading, you are the best thing that came to the Devils since Brodeur, just kidding of course. Seriously, the numbers speak for themselves and Elias’ team leading 69 points was only seven better than the top defenseman Lidstrom’s 62. Sutter, take care of business, settle the offensive struggles, get these guys to play Devils hockey, and your contract will surely take care of itself.

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