New Jersey Devils: It’s Now or Never for Cory Schneider
Cory Schneider should still be considered one of the NHL’s best goalies, but he needs to turn a new leaf as the New Jersey Devils start a new era.
Cory Schneider was once traded for a first-round draft pick by the Vancouver Canucks. Remember that? The Canucks were taking all the heat in the world, but now have a potential captain for years to come in Bo Horvat (drafted in 2013, ninth overall). The New Jersey Devils thought they found themselves a replacement for Martin Brodeur, and they did, but the success has been limited at best.
An NHL All-Star in 2016, he has suffered on-and-off setbacks ever since, and is now hoping to recover from a hip injury before the start of the season. According to Schneider, this hip injury has been bothering him for over a year. This is completely separate from the groin injury suffered last year, a season where he also suffered a lower-body injury earlier in the campaign.
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With ongoing injury issues all season long, 2017-18 was a year to forget. Schneider started 40 games and maintained a 2.93 goals against average with a 0.907 save percentage. Is he a number one workhorse goaltender?
While his best seasons were split with Roberto Luongo in Vancouver, his sample size in New Jersey suggests that when healthy, Schneider can still compete with the best.
Devils Working Schneider too Hard
Schneider’s first three seasons with the Devils were stellar. He put up solid numbers and was in the running as one of the NHL’s best tenders. The Devils were not very good, and Schneider was the guy to man the ship, and he did.
However, the last two seasons suggest that the workload caught up to him and the Devils. Last season, the Devils were able to sneak into the last wild-card spot with the help of a conglomerate of goaltenders and a new face of the franchise in Taylor Hall.
When Schneider did return, he was good, especially in the playoffs. Schneider played in four games, starting three, and maintained a 1.78 GAA and 0.950 SV%. Now that is the Schneider the Devils expected when acquiring him back in 2013.
With that said, it looks like it is time for the Devils to pull back on starting him in 60-plus games and hope for his best games in 40 to 50. Keith Kinkaid is becoming better with age, and acquiring Eddie Lack is a nice insurance policy as well.
Mackenzie Blackwood is another kid to consider down the line. He has looked great in the preseason and should get his opportunity in the distant future.
With plenty of goalies under contract, there is not much of an opportunity for Blackwood at the moment, but the rising importance of addressing the goaltending position is very clear in New Jersey. With that said, Schneider will still be ‘the guy’, but the help of some solid backups will certainly help keep him healthy and ready to win the games that matter.
Growing up on Defense
The Devils are an improving team on the blueline as well. While several of their younger defenders tend to be offensively-minded, there is plenty of experience and skill to improve on the back-end. Captain Andy Greene will have plenty of youth to mold, and the addition of Sami Vantanen should help them keep the puck out of the defensive zone. He is a smooth skater with great offensive instincts, and that is something the Devils could use to generate consistent goal scoring chances.
Defense was always one of the Devils strong suits over the last few decades. As the new era in New Jersey begins, two-way play and ample offensive opportunities will be the new look for the youthful Devils. This will only help the goaltenders in the long run, and will ensure that the workload for Schneider and the rest of the backstops remain manageable.
The Devils have done their part to improve over the last few years. They were able to make the playoffs last season, and should do better in 2018-19 with more experience and depth under their belt. At the same time, it will come down to Schneider taking the reigns as the Devils’ number one goalie and staying injury-free this year.
For now, getting healthy before the season starts and playing in at least one preseason game is the goal. While it seems like a simple enough task, it will provide some insight on whether or not Schneider can be relied upon for the remainder of the year.
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With plenty of goalies under contract, it really is Schneider’s move, and he will have plenty of suitors breathing down his neck all season long.