The New Jersey Devils thought it was going to be easy, but in reality, finding success in the National Hockey League is a hard thing to do on a nightly basis. But ever since this core was put together, the same questions have been asked after every game, and they are met with the same responses.
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It is about the process as the players search for words to explain why the same results keep happening. While the players are owning the results, especially the 9-0 loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday night, that was an inexcusable performance from a team that has a standard to play to.
As DevilsNation.com has documented, right before the season became captain Nico Hischier spoke to Dennis Bernstein and Dave Pagnotta of Sirius XM NHL Network Radio about the standard and the compete level his team must play with every night.
“We know from the get-go what he wants from us, what he wants from us, in practice, in games, and that the standard will be high, but I think that’s what great teams have, and think it’s good to bring that in,” Hischier said when asked about Sheldon Keefe as head coach and what he brings to the table.”
Last year, things were new for the Devils under Keefe, who came in after being fired by the Toronto Maple Leafs. The players didn’t know how accountable he was. It was a new system to them. There was some pushback last season about what was expected of them. However, the foundation was in place. So entering this season, Keefe’s system wasn’t new to the players anymore.
Expectations were high for this group internally. Whether they read their own newspaper or now internet clippings is another story. It is clear that the message isn’t getting through to the players that they need to work and play the right way every night.
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Sheldon Keefe has not been afraid to call out his players for their mental toughness and their inability to embrace what the hard.
“So much of it is a clear understanding and embracing that it is hard,” Keefe told the media back in December after a game against the Anaheim Ducks. “Take care of yourself and do it again. Pull together as a team. This is for the players here today (Saturday, December 12th), accepting that it is what it takes to win. That’s the effort it will take, and it benefits everyone on the team.”
But those nights are far and few between. When the Devils have those types of nights where they play with structure for 60 minutes and are winning board battles, they can beat any team in the League. However, if they don’t play to their standard, you’ll see more nights like Tuesday on Long Island.
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The players and coaches can talk all they want about the process and about understanding what teams are going to throw at them in terms of schemes. But their play on the ice shows the players aren’t embracing the things necessary to be a Stanley Cup-contending team.
As Jake Allen told Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News after Wednesday’s practice, before the team flew to Pittsburgh for Thursday’s game against the Penguins, this isn’t a talent issue. It is a work ethic thing.
“Talent has nothing to do with it. [..] It’s not about talent,” Allen said. “It’s the mindset and the compete and just bringing it every day.”
The New Jersey Devils have to embrace that winning is difficult. If things don’t go their way on or off the ice, they have to stick to their system and believe in themselves. Remember, hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
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There are too many players who think the NHL is going to be easy for them. That mindset has to change. Once that happens, and they understand they have to play consistently and at their standard for 60 minutes, they will succeed again.
But there needs to be a response. The New Jersey Devils have to show they can overcome this, or the narrative will become true: they are a mentally weak franchise that crumbles when adversity hits and will not do what is necessary to win.
