I’m just so glad that I’m writing about the New Jersey Devils as a complete unit and not just about Ilya Kovalchuk. It was infuriating to have to talk about his contract saga on a daily basis, but with it being the only major hockey story during what is always an agonizingly slow summer, it’s all we could do to talk for three hours every day.
However, saying all that, Kovalchuk has to be the major storyline heading into the season for the Devils. Kovalchuk was brought in via trade from Atlanta and was expected to be the major piece of the puzzle to allow them to be a Stanley Cup contender. Kovalchuk was able to pick up 27 points in 27 games and 6 points in 5 games in the playoffs, but he couldn’t elevate the play of his team and the Devils were bounced in the opening round by the Flyers.
The Devils and specifically new head coach John MacLean will have to find a way to keep Kovalchuk contributing at his same pace, but elevating the contributions of others that share ice time with the Russian sniper.
Now, contrary to popular belief, the Devils are more than just about Kovalchuk. Their leading scorer from a year ago is still there in Zach Parise. Parise had 82 points in 81 games last year and will be looking to pick up even more points as he is in the final year of a contract that will make him a restricted free agent at the end of the year.
Defensively, there were major changes in the off-season and the Devils defence looks completely different from 12 months ago with all the changes over the last 12 months. Paul Martin was lost to the Penguins, but as everyone in Ottawa knows by now, Anton Volchenkov signed hours into free agency with the Devils and was joined on July 1st by Henrik Tallinder as he moved over from Buffalo.
In the past, we didn’t even need to talk about the goaltending because we knew Marty Brodeur would play 70-75 games and would be solid throughout. But with Brodeur struggling in the last couple of playoff appearances, the thought throughout the off-season was that this season would be the campaign in which the coaches would finally lower the workload for Marty and that it would allow for him to be fresh for the post-season.
Johan Hedberg could be a guy to watch in camp because he may be counted on the play 15-20 games this year. Usually being the backup for the Devils means a paycheque to sit on the bench, but by all accounts, the Devils bacup will have to earn his paycheque. Another player to watch out for is Travis Zajac. After finishing second on the team in scoring with 67 points in a full season a year ago, could Zajac be the third superstar that the Devils desperately need in order to fulfill the expectations of being a Stanley Cup contender.