NJ's Road to the Playoffs

[NHL Fanatik*]

Hello all, and welcome to my thread called NJ's Road to the playoffs.

Here I am trying to gauge how long all of you think it will take for NJ to get back into the playoff race. When voting in the poll, you can take into account any moves you think Shero might make. If you decide to post in the thread, please list those moves and why you think they will help towards the race to the playoffs.

I think we will be a playoff team by next season, as I believe Shero has a hyper rebuild in mind. I will explain further, just not in the OP.

Vote and leave your thoughts!

Click to read more...

 

[glenwo2]

Next season, I think there's a possibility though there's no guarantee.

The following season, though, I see them returning to the postseason in 2017.

 

[Marv4Life]

2017-2018, if not the next year. The damage has been done. But there is hope.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Voted 1-2 seasons. I know the future seems very bleak right now, but I think the young defensemen (particularly Larsson and Severson) will continue to take significant strides forward, Zacha will develop so he can contribute at the NHL level, and guys like Blandisi and Boucher look like they can do well for us, which would make a solid forward group along with Henrique, Palmieri, and Cammy. We also have a really nice goaltending duo with Cory and Kinkaid. We're on the right path, and we'll get back to the playoffs in a reasonable timeframe I think.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Carry on gents.

 

[glenwo2]

Carry on gents.

Thank you, Eddy.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Voted 1-2

I think we'll be seeing a new-look Devils team in 2016-17. Interpret that as you must.

 

[Devils86]

FWIW..Espn ranked us the least likely team to win a cup in the next five years. We are I the ultimate catch 22..not good enough to make the playoffs and with our backline and goaltending not bad enough to get that franchise changing player. We probably should go full Astros and trade CS..Cammi and anybody else with value that's over 27 but if we do that you'll be talking 5000 a night in the Rock

 

[Drewr15]

I could see them in the playoffs in a season or two but not really a contender until 3 or 4 seasons away.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

FWIW..Espn ranked us the least likely team to win a cup in the next five years. We are I the ultimate catch 22..not good enough to make the playoffs and with our backline and goaltending not bad enough to get that franchise changing player. We probably should go full Astros and trade CS..Cammi and anybody else with value that's over 27 but if we do that you'll be talking 5000 a night in the Rock

This logic is just so mind-numbingly flawed.

 

[Richer's Ghost]

ESPN ranked us poorly.

ESPN also ranked the Washington Nationals as a World Series favorite before the season.
http://espn.go.com/mlb/preview15/story/_/id/12588378/expert-team-predictions-2015-mlb-season

They can't even get THIS year right let alone down the road.

 

[bsouthovi8]

Don't see the Devils making it to the playoffs for a very long time. Most people are thinking 3 years, but that doesn't make much sense to me. Their D-core is fine, but they literally have one good forward prospect and that is it. The cupboard is empty.

 

[Burner Account]

I just don't see enough talent at forward for them to get back in 1-2 years. I don't think any forward acquisition would change that.

 

[ForeverJerseyGirl]

Don't see the Devils making it to the playoffs for a very long time. Most people are thinking 3 years, but that doesn't make much sense to me. Their D-core is fine, but they literally have one good forward prospect and that is it. The cupboard is empty.

What did you think of Blandisi and Boucher? They looked pretty good in the preseason to me. They won't be stars, but they could be solid NHL forwards for us.

ETA: I thought JQ looked pretty impressive as well.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

I just don't see enough talent at forward for them to get back in 1-2 years. I don't think any forward acquisition would change that.

really? If we got some of the upcoming UFAs you dont think thatd change our outlook?

I disagree whole heartedly, even if NJ got one of the better upcoming free agents wed be in great shape.

 

[MNDevilsfan]

I'm confident they'll be a playoff team in 3-4 years. I think the hockey media tends to ignore the fact that we do have a decent number of forwards that can round out a lineup in the system, we're just missing top end offensive talent outside of Zacha. In 4 years we'll have a good defense in their prime, Cory will (probably) still be playing at a high level, and we'll be reaping the benefits of a couple high picks.

That said I do think this team will be more competitive than it has recently, and things could easily be sped up if Shero pulls off a coup a la the Seguin trade, or one of our other young players surprises us.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

Way, way too much can happen in 3-4 years to say this rebuild will take that long.

I'll echo Severson and just point to Calgary.

 

[AfroThunder396]

You don't need to be good to make the playoffs in the shootout era. The East is a crapshoot. A good coach/goalie can take an average or even a below-average team to the playoffs when competition is this weak.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

FWIW..Espn ranked us the least likely team to win a cup in the next five years. We are I the ultimate catch 22..not good enough to make the playoffs and with our backline and goaltending not bad enough to get that franchise changing player. We probably should go full Astros and trade CS..Cammi and anybody else with value that's over 27 but if we do that you'll be talking 5000 a night in the Rock

who gives a **** what ESPN ranks us as?

 

[Unknown Caller]

Way, way too much can happen in 3-4 years to say this rebuild will take that long.

I'll echo Severson and just point to Calgary.

Yep. Even Tampa was was picking in the top 3 when the draft was at the Rock, and last season they were in a Cup final. Dallas had a high pick that year and now everyone thinks they're stacked. Winnipeg/Atlanta looked terrible three or four years ago and now they're coming off of a playoff birth with a good young roster. Montreal picked second overall just a few years ago when they drafted Galchenyuk, and now they're one of the top teams in the east. Ottawa was supposed to be terrible and they have pushed to make the playoffs two out of the last three years or something like that.

The Devils are one or two top six scorers away from being a solid team.

 

[Edmonton East]

3-4. Could change though pending how FA goes the next 2 summers considering how much cap space the Devs will have. 4 years from now, this defense needs to be top 5 in the league for us to make the playoffs. That's what I'm hoping for.

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

yea, most people here don't realize how much time FOUR SEASONS from now is.

hell, 3 seasons ago look at our roster compared to now. how many guys are here now, 3 or 4?

 

[Zippy316]

Depends on next off season.

If we can add Matthews and maybe a guy like Kopitar, Boedker, Okposo, etc we might be able to sneak into the playoffs in a couple years.

I'm really excited for the defense though, we look like we are going to have one of the better defenses in the league.

 

[John Pedro]

3 seasons at least. Good defense + elite goalie aren't enough if you can't score goals. I really doubt we could land a star ufa (Okposo, Kopitar, Stamkos), so unless we start to draft and develop better we're doom.

 

[SpeakingOfTheDevils]

yea, most people here don't realize how much time FOUR SEASONS from now is.

hell, 3 seasons ago look at our roster compared to now. how many guys are here now, 3 or 4?

Good example. You'd think, especially after this summer, more people would recognize how much an organization can change in one offseason.. nevermind 3-4...

I stand with 1-2.