If the Devils can address those glaring weaknesses and play lines/pairings that have chemistry, it's a starting point. Remembering to be very aware that they will be facing a resurgent Panthers and Giants next season.
Weaknesses:
1. The power play..... Pedestrian, limited, predictable. So many games could have and would have been won this season had that system been functioning properly. A key advantage in very tight games. Study videos of Lordo's teams/the Steelers' system/ the New York Rangers... whoever has a successful system that can be emulated.
2. Fans were promised a potentially competitive team based on speed and skill. Too many small guys, some not fast enough. What wasn't taken into account was that other teams had recruited big bodies to shut down those small players. Offensive plans were often decimated as our guys were regularly railroaded out of the way or stopped at the blue line.
Not enough of our own 'big bodies' to create space for our forwards. Some were forced to play a different role and there were nights when you could see it wasn't their natural style.
3. Mindset.....Not privy to level of fatigue, illness or other factors that might affect this. But collectively the team lacked snarl. And attitude. We want our Guys to go through brick walls for to win, and for eachother. We want them to HATE losing. We want to see them cherish our logo (even if it's new!). One or two of them brought that attitude every night and we all know who they are.
4. Chemistry...Injury, the opposition style, team relationships and other factors affect chemistry on the lines. It took a very long time some for chemistries to develop.....and even as late as last month, some 'partnerships' were still not working. It just can't take all season to do that.
Next season
Sandford-Arniel-Offensive beast #1
Offensive beast #2-Martin-Crandall
Waller-Busch-Barrow
Brandt-Davies-Duggan
Crawford-Donaghey
Mosey-Wilde or Defensive beast#1
Batch-Richardson
Bowns
Goalie #2
2 X interchangeable spares
Sorry you are leaving.....Pietroniro and Wall
??? Wilde,Ully
You need to go.....Cox (a limited liability who only played well when he felt like it), Rymsha (a vanilla, anonymous dman), Alderson (a big body who could have been used to create more space instead of playing catchup on the breakaways)
Leadership group: Crandall, Arniel, Davies, Brandt, Donaghey