Hynes had the team playing good defense last year, despite the fact they could barely generate any scoring chances. They were still good defensively.
These days, we're not even respectable looking defensively. We get outshot by a HUGE margin against almost everyone, including mediocre possession teams that aren't known for outshooting their opponent.
If a team can't play good defense, I think it's fair to blame coaching and team system for a good deal of that.
We get our **** pushed in almost every night, with the exception of a few games. Frickin all the way back to the San Jose game. The first Nashville game, which poor goaltending from Rinne helped us get back into the game. The Detroit game, both Pittsburgh games. We actually looked even in the most recent Chicago game, actually both Chicago games. The Montreal game was one of the worst games I've ever seen a Devils team play, from a puck possession standpoint. Montreal is a mediocre team and they outshoot us 49-21.
The only games we've looked competitive in since that Sharks game was the Toronto game, Vancouver, the Flyers game the other night, the Blackhawks game and the Ottawa game and the last Rangers game.