Welcome to Top-Shelf Takes, a weekly series from staff writer Mary Clarke all about the NHL. Lace up your skates as we dive deep into the epic highs and lows of this little sport called hockey.
It wasn’t that long ago that New Jersey Devils fans were calling for head coach Lindy Ruff’s job. In fact, Devils fans chanted “fire Lindy” during New Jersey’s home opener, a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, to express their displeasure at the team’s state of affairs.
Oh, what a difference a month makes.
One week into November, Devils fans have completely changed their tune after the team shook off two straight losses to start the season. In their last 10 games, the Devils have gone 9-1-0 and sit third overall in the NHL with a 9-3-0 record. For a team that many — myself included! — wrote off entirely for the 2022-23 season, what the Devils are doing right now defies all logic and reason.
For a Devils team that finished seventh in the Metropolitan last season, this result without a doubt passes any and all best case scenarios New Jersey’s upper management had. Seriously, when the Devils have Jesper Bratt making goals like this, there’s something special going on in New Jersey.
THIS HAPPENED. pic.twitter.com/TRYB2JLb1z
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) November 4, 2022
Speaking of Bratt, the 23-year-old has been the impetus for the team’s hot start and a big reason why the Devils are fifth in the NHL (3.67) in goals for per games played. Currently, Bratt is on pace for a 113-point season after scoring five goals and 18 points in 13 games played so far, leading the Devils in both categories. All this after coming off the quietest 73-point season in history last year, by the way.
Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier haven’t been slouches either so far, with 12 and 14 points each respectively, but right now it’s Bratt driving the bus for New Jersey.
With the Devils’ offense riding high, what about the rest of the team? New Jersey’s goaltending, which torched them last year after using seven netminders, is actually standing quite tall all things considered. Mackenzie Blackwood’s .880 save percentage is pretty deceiving after a dismal showing against Washington (five goals on 18 shots) but is above .900 if you discard that outlier. And Vitek Vanecek has settled in well with his new team, going 5-1-0 with a .908 save percentage so far.
So, what’s the catch? There’s always one with the Devils, considering they’ve been perennial disappointments and underachievers for the last decade despite some high draft picks and major offseason signings. There’s still room for things to go wrong — it’s early after all — but this Devils team may honestly be legit. You’d like to see the rest of the Devils lineup step up offensively to meet Bratt, Hughes, and Hischier in case they falter, but right now New Jersey is proving the doubters wrong with gusto.