What place would the Devils actually be in if they didn't have Brodeur?

Question

the NJ Devils are a mediocre-to-bad team with a living legend in net. Without him, where do you think they would place? They would surely not make the playoffs. I vote 10th.

PS - Go Flyers. Beat the Devils. Had to throw that in, my apologies.

Answer 1

Before I answer your question...

I root for the Devils but I agree with anyone who thinks Brodeur is overrated.  No question, he is their best player on the team.  And as an organization, you always build your team and/or run a scheme that suits your best player - this is why the Devils play this boring, yet effective (to some degree), team defense-first system.  If he was playing with a team that is not committed to this system, his stats will not be where they are today.  

As a result of this system, their offense underachieves.  Their expected top scoring forwards next season (Gionta, Parise, Rolston, Elias) will score a whole lot more goals if each were in a team that has a more wide-open system.  

Now to your question.  When Brodeur retires, the first two years, either they will be at the bottom of the playoff seedings or not make the playoffs at all (between 7th and 10th in their conference).  Those two years will give them a chance to find out who their best player is - and then develop and commit to a system that suits him.  If that best player turns out to be a goalie or a defenseman, then they will probably stick with the system they have today.  If that best player turns out to be a forward, then they will probably go with a more up tempo attack.  After Brodeur's retirement, it will take at least 5 years for them to get to the Stanley Cup finals.

Answer 2

Always a playoff team.  They have depth.  They work as a cohesive group.  I'm a Ranger fan for life.  And I hate the Devils naturally.  But I hate them mostly because no matter who they trade or let go,  or start the season badly, they always seem to end up in 1st or close to it.  They work well as a team, period.  They have a well rounded group who can switch their syle of play to rival almost any opponent.  Thats all the nice things I can say about them, now the Devils can go back to h**l!

Answer 3

They are NOT mediocre to bad.  Gionta, Parise, Elias, Madden, Pandolfo, now Rolston?  I don't think that's bad at all.  Obviously, if they didn't have Brodeur they'd get another goalie...It's not that hard.  It's not like once Brodeur leaves they're going to be like Tampa Bay with Khabibulin and pick up some crappy goalie.  But of course the new goalie's not going to be anywhere near as good as Brodeur, but the Devils aren't going to drop to 10th.  Probably be in the lower ranks of the playoffs.  I mean, this season the Devils lost one of their best forwards (Gomez) and defensemen (Rafalski) and they were still in the top of the playoff ranks.  So losing their star goalie isn't going to make them horrible.

GO DEVILS!  They lost Gomez and Rafalski and the Flyers picked up Briere and we still did better than you guys last season!!  :P  Had to throw that in too :)

Answer 4

Uhh, it's the off season, they'd be in the same place as everyone else, tied for first.

Answer 5

Rarely does this ever happen but I am in full agreement with cme.

Answer 6

As a Devils and avid hockey fan, I must disagree . The Devils are ridiculously underrated when it comes to their offense. The Devils have Gionta, Parise, Elias, and now Rolston. With them we also have other goal scorers who produce sometimes 20 goals per season---John Madden, Pandolfo, and Langenbrunner come to mind. Yes, with Marty in net their chances for the Division Championship and playoff spots are most certainly increased, but their offense is most definitely on par with most of the other teams around the NHL, if not more so than the Flyers.

In addition, if the Devils offense sucks so bad, why do other teams around the league have Devil offensive products in their line ups? Most recently, Gomez and the Rangers.

I'm so sick of hearing how the Devils are only good because of Marty and their defensive strategy--- why don't you actually look at the statistics compared to your team or even watch a Devils game. It might broaden your horizon and open your eyes.

I vote 5th or 6th w/o Marty.

Go Devils!

Answer 7

i got to say somewwhere betwen 10 through 15... they dont have a lot of good prospects

Answer 8

Believe me, I REALLY don't like the Devils.  Their system is BORING and can suck the life out of any game.  

With that being said, I have to grudgingly admit that they probably wouldn't fall as far as most people think if Brodeur retired or got hurt.  The system they play can make any goalie look much better than he really is.  Brodeur is a legend, but the Devils will still be a playoff team without him.  

Look at Detroit and Boston.  Both of those teams play a boring and defensive-oriented system of hockey.  Both made the playoffs last year, and the Wings took themselves right to the Stanley Cup (they do have better offensive players - they just don't let them run and gun).  Would anybody honestly say that Chris Osgood or Tim Thomas is a "great" goalie?  The strength of their success comes from their committment to team defense.  The Devils play that game as well or better than anybody.  They'll continue to make the playoffs for as long as they maintain this mind-numbing system that they play.