Change of power in the NHL: Devils are back
NEWARK, N.J. — There has been a power shift in the New York City metropolitan area in the NHL.
After missing the playoffs for the past five seasons and finishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference last season, the New Jersey Devils seemingly are back. And that’s not all. The New York Rangers have waved the white flag after a seven-year postseason run that included a trip to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and two other trips to the conference championship round. They will be trading assets for prospects as Monday’s deadline approaches.
And the Islanders are being the Islanders. They are talented, inconsistent and just on the edge of a playoff berth heading into the final quarter of a season that might be John Tavares’ last with the club should he choose free agency.
The surprising story is the Devils. They are young, fast and a pain in the neck to play against. Their 70 points with 22 games left in the season matches their total of last year and it has them in the top wild-card position.
Taylor Hall, the first overall pick in the 2010 draft, has been the catalyst with 25 goals and 38 assists in his bid to make the playoffs for the first time in his eight-year career.
“You don’t know when it is going to come again,” said Hall, who is having a career year. “I don’t know if injuries are going to plague us next year or we get back to this spot in the playoff race, but you really want to take advantage of it. I am trying to do that and have fun but at the same time. I really value how important each shift is in these games.”
New Jersey is not a team of stars. They have contributors, young and old.
Nico Hischier, the first overall pick in June, is centering the top line and has 13 goals and 26 assists. The 19-year-old is also an outstanding defensive player.
Defenseman Will Butcher (two goals, 28 assists) and fellow rookie Jesper Bratt (12 goals, 21 assists) have been a pleasant surprise. Veteran Brian Boyle has provided the emotional spark coming back from cancer to score 11 goals.
Speedy forward Miles Wood has 16 goals in just his second full season, while veteran Kyle Palmieri has added 14 goals and some grit, which is a trademark of the John Hynes-coached team.
To be honest, the Devils still need to finish what they started. They have had good streaks and bad ones, including a recent 18-game skid in which they won five games. They followed that with a four-game winning streak to quell the belief that they were freefalling to the finish.
“That’s what winning teams do,” veteran Drew Stafford said.
TRADING DEADLINE: Besides Nash and Grabner, here’s a quick list of some of the well-known players who might be switching teams before Monday:
F Evander Kane and G Robin Lehner of Buffalo; F Thomas Vanek of Vancouver; D Mike Green of Detroit; F Max Pacioretty, F Alex Galchenyuk and F Tomas Plekanec of Montreal; F Patrick Maroon and F Mark Letestu of Edmonton; F Derick Brassard and D Erik Karlsson of Ottawa.