NHL EDGE Stats: Devils are among the strongest contenders

NHL.com’s fantasy team continues to report on the latest trends and storylines around the league using NHL EDGE puck and player tracker stats. Today we take a look at the New Jersey Devils’ impressive advanced stat profile.

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It seems like a distant memory that the New Jersey Devils missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, as their talent, depth and elite advanced skills were on full display early and often this season.

Last offseason was marked by the acquisition of goaltender Jacob Markstrom in a trade with the Calgary Flames and the hiring of coach Sheldon Keefe. But many of the Devils’ returning players are flexing their EDGE stat muscles in the first two months of the season to put them in contention for the Metropolitan Division title and perhaps even the Presidents’ Trophy.

New Jersey missed the postseason last season despite ranking seventh in shot attempt percentage at 5-on-5 (51.9 percent) due to injuries to its top players, including defenseman Dougie Hamilton (limited to 20 games) and forward Jack Hughes (played 62 games), plus goaltending issues (.886 save percentage, third worst in the NHL). This season, the Devils’ SAT percentage is almost exactly the same (51.6 percent; tied for ninth), and the goaltending tandem of Markstrom and Jake Allen ensures the Devils have a team save percentage of .899 to rank eighth in the NHL. They have provided more consistency than the five goaltenders who played for New Jersey last season.

But the Devils have a wealth of standouts in various advanced stats that help them overwhelm their opponents on many nights and also bounce back quickly from defeats. New Jersey lost consecutive games once during the entire season (October 22-24); Only the Washington Capitals have more wins (20 in 28 games) and points (42) than the Devils (19 in 32 games; 41 points) in the Eastern Conference, and New Jersey ranks seventh in the NHL in points percentage (.641 ). .

According to NHL EDGE stats, the Devils lead the league in high-danger shots on goal (282) and are just one high-danger goal shy of the league lead (51; New York Islanders, Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers have each scored 52 goals). ). ). New Jersey’s power play (30.9 percent) has surpassed the strong-starting Winnipeg Jets as the best in the NHL (30.1 percent; second), and the Devils’ time in the offensive zone with a man advantage (61.1 percent; sixth). ) is not far away from the league lead (New York Rangers, 63.2 percent).

The forward duo of center Hughes and wing Jesper Bratt in a row and center Nico Hischier and wing Timo Meier in a separate unit formed the basis for one of the NHL’s most promising young cores taking the next step.

Bratt (39 points in 32 games; tied for eighth) and Jack Hughes (38 in 32 games; tied for 11th) are tied for the NHL lead, with Bratt continuing to prove he is one of the least known players in the entire league; His 268 points (98 goals, 170 assists) in 272 games since 2021-22 rank 24th in the NHL over the past four seasons.

The underlying metrics also prove that Bratt is one of the most versatile elite players around. According to NHL EDGE stats, Bratt ranks in the 90th percentile or better among forwards in the following categories:

– Speed ​​bursts over 20 mph (69; 92nd percentile)
-22-plus-mph speed bursts (nine; 97th percentile)
-Mid-range shots on goal (34; 96th percentile)
-Medium length targets (seven; 98th percentile)
– Total skating distance (97.82 miles; 96th percentile)
-Highest shooting speed (91.32 mph; 90th percentile)
– Power play offensive zone time percentage (64.0 percent; 91st percentile).

Other highlights from the Devils’ forward group include three of the NHL’s top 10 in dangerous shots on goal (Stefan Noesen is third with 45; Hischier is fifth with 42; Meier is 10th with 37) and Jack Hughes is 10th second in the NHL in total running distance (118.19 miles; behind Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon at 118.80 miles) and also in the 97th percentile of maximum skating speed (23.33 miles per hour). The Devils also have three forwards who are among the league’s best forwards in dangerous goals (Hischier: nine, 97th percentile; Noesen, Jack Hughes: eight each, 94th percentile). And Jack Hughes is just ahead of Bratt in mid-range shots (36; 98th percentile; just outside the top 10 in the NHL).

Defensively, the Devils force many of their opponents’ shots on goal from long distances. Markstrom made the third-most long-range shots on goal (148) and saved the third-most long-range shots (144). With a healthy Hamilton and Luke Hughes, Jack’s younger brother, excelling even in key EDGE stat categories, the Devils will be difficult to contain.

Hamilton is among the top in shots at 80-90 mph (48; 99th percentile) and is among the top ten defensemen in mid-range shots on goal (22; fifth), mid-range goals (three; tied). ninth place) and long-range shots on goal (48; tied for fourth) and percentage of offensive zone time (46.4 percent; tied for ninth). Luke Hughes is among the best in maximum speed (23.58 mph; fourth in the NHL), quick shots in excess of 22 mph (six; leads defensemen) and dangerous shots on goal (five; 92nd percentile at position). ).

So while perennial Metropolitan Division contenders like the Carolina Hurricanes and New York Rangers had some roster flaws early on, the Devils stayed healthy and strong in many ways and rebounded in the standings. Just two seasons ago, New Jersey won a playoff round (against the Rangers) and could be in position to advance even further if they return to the postseason in 2025.

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More NHL EDGE stats for Devils