Apr 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils middle Nico Hischier (13) seems to be on towards the Philadelphia Flyers within the first interval at Wells Fargo Middle. Necessary Credit score: Kyle Ross-Imagn Photos The 2023-24 season was one in all disappointment for each the New Jersey Devils and Buffalo Sabres.
Nonetheless, after an offseason with notable change for every, the 2 groups look to kick off the 2024-25 marketing campaign in a optimistic method once they face off Friday in Prague, Czech Republic, for the primary of two video games within the 2024 NHL International Sequence Czechia.
The Devils completed twenty third within the NHL final season with 81 factors, a stark drop-off after logging 112 factors and ending third within the league in 2022-23. That season, they received off to a 16-3-0 begin, together with a 13-game profitable streak, and made the playoffs for under the second time in 11 years.
“A superb begin for us is crucial,” New Jersey common supervisor Tom Fitzgerald informed NHL.com concerning the upcoming season. “… These 13 video games helped soften the blow for the shedding stretch (in December, 1-7-1) since you’re nonetheless enjoying with home cash.”
Fitzgerald labored this summer season to get his crew again on observe. He acquired goalie Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames and added free agent defensemen Brett Pesce, one of many prime blueliners available on the market, and Brenden Dillon.
Sheldon Keefe was employed to exchange interim head coach Travis Inexperienced, who stepped in after Lindy Ruff was fired on March 4.
“We all know what to do,” Devils captain Nico Hischier mentioned. “We all know the way to get into the rhythm quick. Simply must be skilled and do it. There is no excuses there.”
Ruff, in the meantime, is now behind the bench for the Sabres. He’s charged with guiding the crew again to the playoffs for the primary time since 2011, when he was the final Buffalo coach to take action.
After years of seemingly countless rebuilds, hope sprang when Buffalo completed one level behind the Florida Panthers for the second Jap Convention wild card in 2022-23. Nonetheless, an inconsistent 2023-24 marketing campaign resulted in a seven-point drop, extending the crew’s postseason drought to an NHL-record 13 seasons.
Common supervisor Kevyn Adams employed Ruff six days after firing Don Granato. Adams and the gamers talked concerning the want and need for accountability, which is a part of what Ruff brings together with construction.
The Sabres purchased out the final three years of Jeff Skinner’s contract and revamped their backside six forwards so as to add depth and make the crew more durable to play towards. Adams acquired Ryan McLeod from the Edmonton Oilers in trade for extremely touted prospect Matt Savoie. He traded for Beck Malenstyn and signed Jason Zucker, Sam Lafferty and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
The Sabres gamers have shortly purchased into Ruff’s system.
“Simply watching the group and the way we performed the preseason video games, the mentality we had going into all these video games, I feel it has been phenomenal,” Buffalo ahead Alex Tuch mentioned. “We’re enjoying the way in which we have to play to win some video games.”
They are going to be on the lookout for bounce-back seasons from Tuch, Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens after every dropped off on offense final season. Buffalo additionally hopes for continued development from forwards JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn, defenseman Owen Energy and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Final season, Luukkonen ascended to the No. 1 function, and he signed a five-year extension within the offseason.
And they’ll do all this underneath new captain Rasmus Dahlin, named to the function on Sept. 26.
“Simply his presence and the way in which guys feed off his power … truthfully, it is a pleasure to observe,” Lafferty mentioned.
–Area Stage Media