Devils Stat Attack: First 10 Games in Review

A written version of Stat Attack. What's stood out — good and bad — through the New Jersey Devils' first 10 games of 2024-25?

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Instead of focusing on a recap of last night's game, a 5-3 loss to the Detroit Red Wings, let's zero in on the New Jersey Devils' first ten games of 2024-25.

The Devils' started well, but the last few games haven't gone according to plan. What's been good? What's been bad? And what needs to be better from the Devils, who are 5-4-1 after their first ten games?   

Devils Goaltending Hasn't Been Good Enough

Jacob Markström and Jake Allen have had a couple of good starts, but the Devils' goaltending has not been good enough through ten games. It's specifically been Markström, who had a rough night against the Red Wings.

Of course, it's early, but Markström has struggled quite a bit. Here are his stats at all strengths:

• SV%: .891

• Goals Saved Above Expected: -2.9

• High-danger SV%: .745

There are two ways to look at this. One) This is not the goalie the Devils acquired to be. That's obviously correct, and he needs to be better. But two) he's also probably not this bad.

Markström has consistently posted a high-danger SV% around .830 to .850, which are excellent numbers for that statistic. I doubt he'll be hanging around an overall .890 SV% for long, too, so bet on positive regression.

If he doesn't rebound, it'll probably be another long season for the Devils, so they need better from him.  

As for Allen, he's a bit tougher to assess. He had two excellent starts before giving up eight goals to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. His numbers don't look great, but they completely cratered after the Lightning game. We'll have a better idea of how to assess him once we do this post again at the 20-game mark.

Nico Hischier Has Been Elite

While Jack Hughes still gets going (he looked great against the Red Wings, so it's coming along for him), Nico Hischier has been an absolute beast across the Devils' first ten games.