Jersey Collapse

After letting enough time go by to emotionally remove myself from the ‘collapse’ I wanted to look at the Devils short cup run as a hockey analyst rather than a Devils fan. As a devastated Devils fan recuperating from the most horrendous postseason loss ever experienced, I placed every Devil under the bus seeking an explanation for the defeat.

I attacked Martin Brodeur for letting in yet another soft goal. I questioned Zach Parise for not clearing the puck along the boards for the tying goal along with Niclas Havlid camping in front of the net out of position. I wondered why Mike Mottau gave Eric Staal a cushion instead of taking him out of the play immediately for the game winning goal. I tried to rationalize how so much could go wrong in such a little amount of time. How such a promising club could blow a lead and their entire season in a matter of seconds.

"They are all tough, but there are certain times you go to the playoffs really believing in the team and thinking that you have what it takes to go on a long run," captain Jamie Langenbrunner said. "Losing it that way hurts that much more. I think we really believed in this team, so it's tough to swallow."

Days later I realized the New Jersey Devils did not lose their season in the last couple of minutes during Game 7. I also understand that the players on the ice weren’t to blame for the defeat. At least not totally. The players on the ice weren’t the ones most responsible for the loss. It was the guy on the bench. More specifically the guy behind the bench barking the orders and calling the shots. Brent Sutter lost this series for the New Jersey Devils.

The 2008-2009 Devils set a club record for most wins during the regular season with 51. Brent Sutter became the first coach since Robbie Ftorek to get the most out of his team on offense. The team thrived in high scoring games when in previous years would seem lost. Brent Sutter made it a point to roll four lines that could score goals and even flirted with a five forward power play.

My favorite lineup during the regular season had to be:

Elias Zubrus Gionta
Parise Zajac Langenbrunner
Shanahan Rolston Clarkson
Holik Madden Rupp

Such strategy was unheard of for the franchise, but Sutter experimented and Sutter succeeded. In the regular season that is.

For a reason that I cannot explain, Brent Sutter decided to completely change his philosophy for the playoffs and revert back to a Devils style of hockey which has won us cups, but hasn’t won us anything since 2003. Brent Sutter put aside the high tempo offense that got the team to the playoffs and started relying on matching lines, more specifically relying on John Madden and Jay Pandolfo. Brent Sutter started relying on Madden, who for most of the year was the teams 4th line center, and Pandolfo who was a healthy scratch for 20+ games. The head coach deemed these two players not good enough to see significant playing time during the regular season, but in the playoffs became go to guys.

I compare it to a closer in baseball. If Mariano Rivera needs to get a hitter out, he uses his best pitch. The cutter is coming in on the hands of the left hander. If you’re going to get beat, you get beat with your best pitch. For Brent Sutter, he didn’t rely on his best pitch, or his best players. Brent Sutter didn’t rely on the offensive style of play and offensive players that dominated games in the regular season. Brent Sutter played not to lose, instead of playing to win. Fine strategy for 1995, but not in today's game.

"The 09-10 season started today," said Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello a day after the Game 7 loss. "You just don't dismiss or get out of your mind what just transpired. You look for reasons, not for excuses. It's not something I believe in. You self-reflect and go from there."

Self-reflect away Lou. Brent may have screwed up his offensive rotation in the playoffs but the General Manager has to take the blame on the defense. Simply put, I don’t trust anybody on the Devils defense in the final minutes of a game. I don’t see a Scott Stevens, a Ken Daneyko or a Scott Niedermeyer. I see a bunch of 3-4-5 defensemen being thrust into situations they aren’t paid to handle. These discount defensive cores have to be upgraded if the team is to make a deep run into the postseason.

Regular season is one thing where Mike Mottau can be a plus 20 player. But in the playoffs, he’s a minus defenseman when the opposing team is sending their star players out every other shift. Sure you can blame Mike Mottau for allowing Eric Staal a shot against Martin Brodeur. Mike Mottau is making $750,000 while Eric Staal makes $5,000,000. I’m not asking Lou to make a trade for Pronger or Chara. I’m asking the Devils G.M to stop relying on players to play well beyond their capabilities, and fill those voids with skilled proven defensemen.

"...As far as rethinking philosophically, I believe in our structure and believe in our core," the longtime general manager said. "We just have to get better."

Better indeed. It is going to be an interesting summer in Jersey. One could argue they have a hall of fame goalie and a competent offense to compete next year. Regular season I’m not worried about even with the potential loss of Brian Gionta and John Madden. But in the playoffs, if we don’t use our competent offense properly, if we continue sending out number 5-6 defensemen to hold leads, and our hall of fame goalie can’t win us a playoff series (which he hasn’t in a very long time), the franchise may be setting their fans up for another Devils playoff disappointment.

-Mike