The 2023-24 season was one in every of 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 constructive method after 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 obtained off to a 16-3-0 begin, together with a 13-game profitable streak, and made the playoffs for less than the second time in 11 years.
“A superb begin for us is crucial,” New Jersey normal supervisor Tom Fitzgerald advised NHL.com concerning the upcoming season. “… These 13 video games helped soften the blow for the dropping stretch (in December, 1-7-1) since you’re nonetheless enjoying with home cash.”
Fitzgerald labored this summer time to get his crew again on monitor. He acquired goalie Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames and added free agent defensemen Brett Pesce, one of many high blueliners in the marketplace, and Brenden Dillon.
Sheldon Keefe was employed to switch 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 best way to get into the rhythm quick. Simply should be skilled and do it. There isn’t any 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 limitless rebuilds, hope sprang when Buffalo completed one level behind the Florida Panthers for the second Japanese 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.
Basic supervisor Kevyn Adams employed Ruff six days after firing Don Granato. Adams and the gamers talked concerning the want and want 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 harder to play in opposition to. 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 best way we have to play to win some video games.”
They are going to be searching for bounce-back seasons from Tuch, Tage Thompson and Dylan Cozens after every dropped off on offense final season. Buffalo additionally hopes for continued progress from forwards JJ Peterka and Jack Quinn, defenseman Owen Energy and goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. Final season, Luukkonen ascended to the No. 1 position, and he signed a five-year extension within the offseason.
And they’re going to do all this below new captain Rasmus Dahlin, named to the position on Sept. 26.
“Simply his presence and the best way guys feed off his vitality … actually, it is a pleasure to look at,” Lafferty mentioned.
–Area Degree Media
