Puck Daddy’s NHL 2014-15 Emoji Preview: New Jersey Devils

(The 2014-15 NHL season is nearly upon us, and attempting to handicap the winners and losers can sometimes leave us speechless. So we decided to break down all 30 teams with the next best thing to words: Emojis!) 

Last Season In Emojis

Last Season, In Summary 

The Devils missed the playoffs in their first season in the Metro, finishing with 88 points, five out of the wild card.

The culprit? Obviously the shootout, where the Devils were a pathetic 0-13. But many also pointed to the inflated numbers and ineffective play of goalie Martin Brodeur, who shared perhaps too much time with the more effective Cory Schneider.

But as no one can say no to a franchise legend, Brodeur played 39 games and posted some of the weakest numbers of his career.

Thus begins the post-Brodeur era for the Devils, as he wasn’t re-signed as a free agent but Schneider was given a long-term deal. 

Last Season’s Definitive Highlight 

This is where we mention Jaromir Jagr deserved more Hart Trophy consideration.

Off-Season Transactions

Desperate for more goal-scoring after finishing 27th in goal-for average last season, the Devils signed free-agent winger Michael Cammalleri to a 5-year, $25-million contract that left some screaming “overpaid!” for the 32-year-old. They made a shrewd reclamation project signing of Martin Havlat after he was jettisoned by the Sharks; on a 1-year deal, he could be a steal with the proper motivation.

The Devils bid adieu to Brodeur, defenseman Mark Fayne (who signed with Edmonton) and prospects Alex Urbom and Mattias Tedenby, who left for Europe.

The Devils have nearly two dozen options at forward. Which is nutty. 

Jaromir Jagr (67 points) led the team in scoring last season and Patrik Elias (53 points in 65 games) was second.

Jagr, Travis Zajac (48 points) and Dainius Zubrus (26 points) formed an effective first line last season. But with the offseason changes, last season’s lines could be tossed in a blender. Does Michael Cammalleri slide in with Adam Henrique (43 points) and Michael Ryder (18 goals)? Where does Ryane Clowe fit, after spending a good amount of time with Henrique and Ryder last season? Or Tuomo Ruutu, who had 8 points in 18 games? Donde esta Damien Brunner, who showed flashes of offensive spark with 11 goals last season? Then there’s Havlat and Jacob Josefson. Kids like Stefan Matteau and Reid Bocuher. Knuckleheads like Cam Janssen? Camp invites like Scott Gomez, Ruslan Fedotenko and Scott Gomez? 

One thing’s clear: Stephen Gionta and Steve Bernier are back, hoping that their fellow energy liner Ryan Carter joins them. (He’s currently a UFA.)

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Andy Greene was given a 5-year extension he earned by being one of the most effective (and unheralded) defensemen in the league. He led the Devils with 24:35 TOI last season. The majority of his time was with Fayne last season; will DeBoer put him with one of the team’s younger D-men or go double vets with someone like Marek Zidlicky (42 points, 21:39 TOI)? 

Captain Bryce Salvador is in the last year of his deal with the Devils and was limited to 40 games last season and saw his ice time decrease.

The real intrigue on the Devils’ blue line is with the kids. We’ve yet to see former No. 4 overall pick Adam Larsson reach his potential, but he’s just 21. Jon Merrill was solid in 52 games last season as a rookie. But it’s Eric Gelinas that had tongues wagging, with a booming shot and 29 points in 60 games as a rookie. His occasional defensive lapses, however, led to him being in and out of DeBoer’s doghouse. He’s currently an unsigned RFA.

Tomas Kaberle has been invited to Devils camp because they don’t have enough old Czechs. 

This is Cory Schneider’s team now, and that’s a good thing: He had a .921 save percentage and a 1.97 GAA in 39 games, starring while Marty Brodeur stumbled. 

Scott Clemmensen is back as a potential backup, with rookies Scott Wedgewood and Keith Kincaid in the wings to usurp him. 

Probable Text Conversation Within Organization

Special Teams

The Devils were ninth in the NHL on the power play at 19.7 percent on 241 opportunities, the third-fewest last season. Zidlicky led the team with eight power-play goals.

The Devils had the best penalty kill in the NHL last season at 86.4 percent with nine shorthanded goals. They were shorthanded 264 times.

GM and Coach

DeBoer is entering his fourth season, which is like entering your 20th season in Lou Lamoriello terms. He’s missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons. If it happens again, he’s done.

Lamoriello saw many of his responsibilities on the business side given to others under the new ownership. Once again, he’s putting his faith in familiar faces and veteran players to find the right chemistry, augmented with some strong young players on the back end. 

And Now, A Blooper 

Who says the NHL is never on ESPN?

The Potential Best Thing About This Team

Schneider. Granted, he’s had trouble keeping the gigs that have been handed to him in the past. But this time, there’s no Luongo or Brodeur giving him death stares from the bench.

The Potential Worst Thing About This Team

The 82-game season. Full respect to the genetic freaks like Jagr, but there’s a lot of mileage on this roster. 

Single Emoji Prediction

The old man. Not only because of the veteran group at the core of this team, but because the old man running it is still trying to navigate through the departures of Parise and Kovalchuk.

Last season marked the first time the Devils have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons under Lamoriello. With Schneider getting 60-plus starts and a bit more puck luck in the shootout, they won’t make their postseason absence into a hat trick.