New Jersey Devils Overachieving

New Jersey Devils: Overachieving in 2015-16

Ranked ninth in the Eastern Conference after 33 games, New Jersey Devils have surprised the hockey world eight games shy of the halfway mark in 2015-16. The Devils are 16-13-4 with 36 points scoring 76 goals for, 79 goals against.

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Mike Cammalleri leads the way in scoring with 32 points in 33 games, putting him on pace for 79.5 points. Newcomer Kyle Palmieri and Lee Stempniak rank second with 25 points in 33 games each, for a pace of 62 points. Adam Henrique ranks fourth in scoring with 24 points in 31 games, on a 63.5 point pace.

The majority of Cammalleri’s NHL season’s fall in the 40-50 point range, with two exceptions. In 2006-07 with Los Angeles, Mike Cammalleri produced 80 points in 81 games, while in 2008-09 with Calgary, Cammalleri tallied 82 points in 81 games. His largest total since, came in 2009-10, scoring 50 points with Montreal.

He’s managed to stay consistent throughout 2015-16, something he’s only managed in two seasons since being drafted back in 2001. It’s not out of the realm of possibilities that the 33-year-old veteran continues his torrid pace over the next 49 games. Although it’s more likely Cammalleri hits a wall at some point, likely the same fate several Devils forwards are meant to face at some point.

Kyle Palmieri made for a sneaky steal from Anaheim, fitting nicely into the Devils top six. He’s seen additional time on the powerplay with New Jersey, scoring five goals, adding seven helpers, for 12 of his 25 points coming on the PP.

Lee Stempniak struggled to find work in the offseason, finally earning a PTO with New Jersey on September 16th, 2015. Veterans are struggling to find work nowadays in a cap world, and professional tryout’s are becoming more common. Stempniak is proving there’s gas still in the tank, much like Tomas Fleischmann has done in Montreal this season. Stempniak is another player that’s battled inconsistencies over his career.

Between three wildly inconsistent players and several players 25 or younger, it’s only a matter of time before the New Jersey Devils hit a wall. Some have compared this team to the Calgary Flames of 2014-15, but there’s no comparison in talent level. The difference is in-goal, with New Jersey boasting one of the league’s elite goaltenders.

Cory Schneider posted a 26-31-9 record in 2014-15, generating five shutouts with a 2.26 GAA and .925 save percentage. The New Jersey Devils managed to finish 13th in the Eastern Conference in 2014-15, while featuring one of the NHL’s top netminders. He’s 14-9-1 so far in 2015-16, with a 2.16 GAA and .924 save percentage. He’ll continue to provide solid performances in net. The question is whether the Devils defense core can provide solid play over an 82-game season.

Young players tend to battle over stretches of games late in a season as the body adjusts to the wear of a long NHL season. Players these days are well-conditioned and well-trained to handle the grind physically. It’s the mental wherewithal young players are forced to adapt to and learn how to handle at the beginning of their careers.

The New Jersey Devils are fortunate thus far in 2015-16, having pieces fall perfectly into place, getting unexpected performances from unlikely players. But, there’s simply too many questionable variables that must continue to work in New Jersey’s favor over the next four or so months.

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Give the team credit, they’ve been excellent this season, up-and-down their entire lineup. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end, and unfortunately this seems destined to be one of those scenarios. You can probably count them out for the 2015-16 season long-term, but make no mistake, the New Jersey Devils have pieces in place to ensure team success in the near-future. Prospects Pavel Zacha, Mackenzie Blackwood, Steve Santini, John Quenneville, Raman Hrabarenka, Seth Halgeson, and Blake Pietila all show promise. 2015-16 is giving New Jersey Devils fans hope for the future, but patience is necessary for what could be a regular playoff contender over the next decade.