The New Jersey Devils’ 2023-24 season was marked by numerous challenges, including poor goaltending, shaky defense, and a spate of injuries. However, one significant issue that undermined their performance was their constant shifting of forward lines. This lack of consistency was a major factor in their struggles throughout the season.
Fans dubbed former head coach Lindy Ruff “Line Blender Lindy” due to his frequent line changes. When interim coach Travis Green took over, he expressed a desire for more stability in line combinations. He noted, “You’d like to stay consistent. That’s always the goal when you put a line together.” However, injuries and trades made it difficult to maintain consistent lineups.
The Devils faced a staggering 288 man-games lost to injuries, making it challenging to keep stable lines. Despite this, they used 71 different line combinations, which was the 29th highest in the NHL. This is a significant increase compared to their 2022-23 season, where they used 58 combinations, ranking them 10th fewest in the league. The discrepancy in line stability was evident when comparing to other teams, such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, who, despite facing 381 man-games lost to injury, managed to use only 61 line combinations. This suggests that, under normal circumstances, maintaining fewer combinations could be beneficial for the Devils.
Research shows that teams using fewer line combinations tend to perform better. Eight of the ten teams with the least line changes made the playoffs, averaging 101.3 points in the standings. Keeping lines together allows for better chemistry and effectiveness, a strategy that worked well for teams like the Nashville Predators.
The Dallas Stars had the fewest line combinations last season, with 39, highlighting the stark contrast to the Devils’ 71. When the Devils did mix lines in the 2023-24 season, the results were less effective compared to the previous season. In 2022-23, six of their line combinations played over 150 minutes each, while in 2023-24, only two combinations reached this threshold.
A key contributor to the Devils’ line juggling was the struggle to integrate Alexander Holtz into the lineup. The former sixth overall pick was used in 19 different line combinations but failed to find a stable fit. Holtz’s frequent line changes disrupted the team’s chemistry, and his departure to the Vegas Golden Knights may alleviate some of the lineup instability.
Moving forward, the Devils face other lineup questions, such as the placement of Ondrej Palat or Tomas Tatar in the top-six and whether Paul Cotter should start on the third or fourth line. However, these decisions are unlikely to be as contentious as Holtz’s usage.
The preseason will provide an opportunity to test out combinations, such as bringing back the successful line of Tomas Tatar, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer from 2022-23. While preseason results do not always predict regular-season success, they will help coach Keefe assess the best starting lineup.
The Devils hope for fewer injuries in the upcoming season, but even if they encounter similar issues, Keefe’s approach suggests a higher likelihood of maintaining consistency compared to previous seasons. The Maple Leafs, under Keefe, had two lines play over 360 minutes each, whereas the Devils’ most-used line last season was on the ice for only 265 minutes.
The 2023-24 Devils struggled with inconsistency, a pattern they need to address to improve. By adopting strategies similar to those of the Florida Panthers, who used only 46 line combinations and had five lines play over 200 minutes, the Devils aim to enhance their stability and performance. Reducing lineup changes and improving team cohesion will be crucial for the Devils to rebound and achieve a more successful season.
