Unfortunately it’s another year without New Jersey Devils’ playoff hockey. Sure, there has been plenty of great hockey played. However, I can’t get my mind off the black and red.
While watching the NHL playoffs, and interesting thought came to mind. The Devils in their current situation remind me of another NHL team and how they were a few seasons ago as well. This isn’t one of those observations that’s backed by obscure advanced states, but rather just comparisons between the two. The New Jersey Devils are starting to remind me of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Yeah, The Toronto Maple Leafs
Okay, saying they reminding me of a team that hasn’t won the Stanley Cup since Lyndon Johnson was president might not be what Devils’ fans want to hear. I’m not talking about the current date Toronto Maple Leafs. Let’s say the Toronto Maple Leafs of a few short years ago.
Both teams where in lengthy losing streaks and playoff droughts (Toronto starting in 2004 and the Devils starting in 2012). Both teams ended up making a surprise playoff appearance (Toronto in 2012-2013 and the Devils in 2017-2018). After those first playoff appearances, both fan bases figured their team had finally turned the corner and would start winning again. Unfortunately, both those teams would fail to make the playoffs again the immediate season after.
After Brendan Shanahan took over with the Toronto Maple Leafs, he promised a rebuild that might cause some painfully losing, but asked fans to be patient while he built something great. Even if he hasn’t publicly come out and said the same thing, Devils’ general manager Tom Fitzgerald seems to be taking a similar approach in New Jersey. Of course, Toronto turned the corner much earlier than expected because of their draft lottery luck in getting generational talent Auston Matthews.
Where The Two Teams Differ
The current Maple Leafs have built a team on analytics. Perhaps they’re much more analytics-driven than any other team in today’s NHL. Fitzgerald seems to be taking the old school “let the kids play” approach to building a team. The youth movement was in full swing this year, even if it translated to few wins down the stretch. Even Travis Zajac saw what Fitzgerald was doing. Sure, the Devils play into the analytics, but having the youngest lineup in modern NHL history wasn’t a move decided upon behind a computer.
“Trust The Process”
One of the other writers at Devils Army Network compared the way the Devils are building the team to another Harris-Blitzer property in the Philadelphia 76ers. For much the same time-frame the Devils were rebuilding (well, before the post 2017-2018 playoff run rebuild) the 76ers were rebuilding as well. Philadelphia was rebuilding in dramatic fashion by telling their fans to “trust the process.” They may not be good this year, or the next year, or the year after that, but eventually they will be really good.
Even with the same ownership connection with Harris-Blitzer, the New Jersey Devils obviously haven’t done this and for many reasons. First off, the NHL doesn’t “allow” tanking. Sure, it still happens, just ask the Buffalo Sabres who wanted Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel. Considering how long and how public the whole “trust the process” tanking was, it’s hard to imagine that happening into today’s NHL. In the NBA it’s frowned upon, but no one is going to stop it. I don’t know what the NHL would have done to stop it, but I imagine it wouldn’t have been easy for the Devils to get away with.
Plus, Devils Don’t Tank
Even more important is that the Devils front office staff have never been committed to tanking (well the hockey operations department at least). Lou Lamoriello would never commit to a rebuild, even after two former players went to the Minnesota Wild and “retired,” respectively. Ray Shero started a rebuild, but was never in full on tank mode. Even after Tom Fitzgerald took over and pretty much said, “the only pieces I’m keeping are Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Mackenzie Blackwood,” he’s made enough moves to improve the team to “non-tank” levels.
Now “tanking” is a full season procedure. Sure, the Devils have sort of thrown in the towel after the season has gotten away from them. When you’re out of the playoff race by midseason you don’t really have any other choice. My point is I’m not considering it “trust the process,” tanking unless it’s been the team’s goal since day one.