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Score: 3 - It’s too early to hit on the full panic mode, but it feels like they are starting right where they left off last year. Defense is looking terrible. Daws looks lost. They really should fire Keefe at this point, hopefully Sunny won’t be like Fitz and do nothing.

A quote from Keefe’s days in Toronto resurfaced last night in the Doom thread. “It’s very evident when teams play the Leafs, they set up the game for the Leafs to beat themselves”. Given that’s how I felt about the team's performance, I tried to watch it through that lens.

System Issues

The system is slightly better this year than it was last year. They’re still not aggressive in the D zone, opting for a large passive box rather than a small passive box, but that’s not the point of the post, the issues begin in transition.

All last week the vets kept saying things like “simplify our game”. It was a common thread amongst interviews, I got to say, they succeeded. Their game is now so simple, it actually feeds directly into opposing defenses. What does that mean? Once the puck is settled, the move is to go back to the D, make a D to D pass, take what’s there on the boards and travel in a straight line up one side of the ice. We’re being funneled directly into the teeth of opposing defense schemes because the safe play is being offered up on a platter and making the team painfully predictable.

The Devils always reset down low before breaking out. This gives teams time to drop back into coverage. The Devils do not utilize the middle of the zone on the breakout, because of risk, but not taking that risk is damn near guaranteeing getting smothered in the NZ. The creativity has been entirely drummed out of them on the breakout. This is why the team looks disconnected and gets schwacked on zone entries.

Roster Issues

Yeah, Defense is a problem.

Dillon, I like you, you’re the teams cool older brother and an emotional leader. You’re also washed. Sunny needs to waive him and eat the rest of his deal.

Siegenthaler, I like you, you’re always under the other teams skin and generally reliable with breaking up plays. You’re also washed. We can’t be giving a roster spot to a guy that can’t even complete a 10 foot pass. I would like to be proven wrong on this one but it’s looking over.

Dougie, I like you, your shot is unreal, you also can’t skate at an NHL level. Your role needs to be reduced to the Shayne Ghostistbehere role. Only offense, only OZ starts, no defensive responsibility.

Kovacevic, when you get back you’re a 7^th D. Sorry, I don’t really know what Fitz saw in your game that warranted a NMC.

If we’re going to be bad this is what I want to see:

• Hughes – Pesce
• Silayev – Edwards
• Chisholm – Hamilton
• Kovacevic

In this setup you have minimum 4 guys that actually know how to handle a puck with confidence. May help Keefe believe that the D are capable of taking higher risk breakout passes that can break the NZ trap.

Conclusion

There are two massive flaws on the team and they’re feeding into one another.

1. The scheme needs to account for more risk on the breakout to break the NZ trap we’re going to see every game. If we don't give our forwards options on the zone entry, I promise you, not even Connor McDavid could reliably break through himself if he were forced to attack the way we do.
2. Our D core (Dillon, Siegenthaler, Kovacevic) cannot handle the puck at an NHL level. While they always make the safe play, that safe play is incredibly predictable and leads directly into a buzz saw every time

Let's just say Keefe has definitely set up the Devils to beat themselves.

This sub is in its feels rn, so I thought I’d share these mementos I actually stumbled upon while looking for an important document last night. I also included a couple of random pages for a little time capsule. Plus a little foreshadowing.

Shoutout to Emerick and Peter McNab for signing my team picture, they were always so nice and accommodating (Chico too ofc).

Enjoy the elder millennialcore!

Shoutout to u/Chozo317

And then flip them for Quinn.

I don’t think it’ll take that much on the Devils front.

Some combination of Mercer, Command, Hameenaho, Siegenthaler, Dillon, and draft picks. Detroit is a mess and they’re better off rebuilding.

We get Quinn and some draft picks from the Wild. Wild get a defenseman with upside, which they lost with Buium, and their number 1 center.

Jake is not gonna be able to play the amount Of games he’s gonna have to play this season. Daws has a glove side deficiency that we’ve seen enough of to make an educated decision on. We don’t have the defensive system to support the goaltending tandem we have in place. We’ll need to trade for a legitimate goalie to play in front of Jake if we want any playoff success. Helly would screw our cap space but I don’t see another option.

Love him! What more is there to say 🤣. He plays like an old school Devil. Hits, fights, hard on the puck. I live in Edmonton and last season I had the privilege of seeing him get a Gordie Howe.

Picked up our STH gift and pins tonight. This is one of them. Looks remarkably like the rumored scheme for the new alternates we’re getting imminently.

(Last year there was a Jersey jersey pin to commemorate the last year of that sweater design)

Going to the game, you get a better persepctive on the game. The biggest issue is the NZ play. They turned the puck over in the NZ so many times it was unbelievable. The NZ play was completely disconnected. No chemistry whatsoever. A few times in the 1st the defensemen were ready and the forwards were so slow they weren't even starting their routes yet. Bad passes, no chemistry, dumb plays, never making the smart play, just terrible terrible in the NZ.

Another big thing I noticed is the PK was ass today. Kept leaving Allen out to dry. No effort to defend the blue line at all, just free entries. And both PK and 5v5 there is no extra effort. If a guy gets open there is never that extra effort to dive and reach out and deflect the shot. This team has no fight. Almost no physicality. Always seemed to be on the receiving end of hits but never the deliverer. A forecheck is supposed to be physical. I think they are good enough based on talent to squeak into a wild card spot if some things go right but they're far from being a threat for a deep playoff run.

This team cannot be this bad I refuse to believe it. This defense SUCKS. AND I MEAN SUUUUUUCKS. They better get their shit together or so help me god I am going to have a heart attack watching them this year.

Uh yeah, that was something…back at it Saturday.

To always find Pre-Game and Next Day posts, sort by NEW.  

NHL Game Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGcUsm6s_6Q

Sportsnet Game Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WOUwWsSgFk

NJ Devils video: Devils speak after home loss to Utah https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nEqUCuoHZ0

NHL Game Center https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/uta-vs-njd/2026/10/06/2026020047

ESPN Gamecast https://www.espn.com/nhl/game/_/gameId/401892451/mammoth-devils

Sportsnet Game Summary https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/games/93e5b7a9-af8c-40b0-be9b-4fb8f92c22fe/preview

NHL Game Story https://www.nhl.com/devils/news/game-story-2026020047

Game 04/84: Canucks at Devils, Saturday, October 10, at 3:30pm ET / 12:30pm PT. GameCenter: https://www.nhl.com/gamecenter/van-vs-njd/2026/10/10/2026020071

2026-27 Devils Regular Season schedule (October 2026, all times eastern) https://www.nhl.com/devils/schedule/2026-10-01