2010–11 New Jersey Devils season
The 2010–11 New Jersey Devils season was the team's 37th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974,[2] and 29th season since the franchise relocated to New Jersey to start the 1982–83 NHL season.
2010–11 New Jersey Devils | |
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Division | 4th Atlantic |
Conference | 11th Eastern |
2010–11 record | 38–39–5 |
Home record | 22–16–3 |
Road record | 16–23–2 |
Goals for | 174 |
Goals against | 209 |
Team information | |
General manager | Lou Lamoriello |
Coach | John MacLean (Oct.–Dec.) Jacques Lemaire (interim) (Dec.–Apr.) |
Captain | Jamie Langenbrunner (Oct.–Jan.) Vacant (Jan.–Apr.) |
Alternate captains | Patrik Elias Ilya Kovalchuk Zach Parise |
Arena | Prudential Center |
Average attendance | (As of Home Game #41) Arena Capacity: 17,625 Average Draw: 14,776 Percentage: 83.84% Total: 605,803[1] |
Team leaders | |
Goals | Ilya Kovalchuk (31) |
Assists | Patrik Elias (41) |
Points | Patrik Elias (62) |
Penalty minutes | David Clarkson (116) |
Plus/minus | Mark Fayne (+10) |
Wins | Martin Brodeur (23) |
Goals against average | Johan Hedberg (2.38) |
The Devils posted a regular season record of 38 wins, 39 losses and 5 overtime/shootout losses for 81 points, failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since the 1995–96 season, ending their 13-season playoff streak. This was the first time the Devils finished the season with a losing record since the 1990–91 season. Their 174 goals scored were the lowest ever amount for the Devils in a non-lockout shortened season.
Off-season
On April 26, 2010, Jacques Lemaire announced that he would retire from coaching.[3] On June 17, the New Jersey Devils announced that John MacLean would become the 19th head coach in the franchise's history.[4] On June 29, the Devils announced that former NHL player Adam Oates will be the assistant coach for the team for the 2010–11 season.[5]
On July 19, Ilya Kovalchuk re-signed with the Devils to a 17-year, $102 million contract. The contract was front-loaded with minimal payments in the last few seasons, when Kovalchuk would be in his 40s and unlikely to play. The deal was subsequently rejected by the NHL as a circumvention of the NHL collective bargaining agreement. The Devils stated after the NHL rejection that they would appeal the decision under the "collective bargaining agreement" process.[6] On August 8, arbitrator Richard Bloch upheld the NHL's rejection of the contract, rendering Kovalchuk an unrestricted free agent again.[7] On September 4, the Devils re-submitted another contract to the NHL worth $100 million to be paid over 15 years. The deal was approved by the NHL the following week as part of an NHL–National Hockey League Players' Association agreement concerning contracts over five years in length.[8]
Regular season
An injury to Bryce Salvador allowed the Devils to avoid a major trade before the start of the regular season. They opened their regular season at home on October 8 with a 4–3 overtime loss to the Dallas Stars with only 20 players on the roster. Subsequent injuries to Anton Volchenkov and Brian Rolston, as well as a one-game suspension of Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond after a 7–2 loss to the Washington Capitals, dropped the roster size to 17. The team and management have been under scrutiny for the decision to dress as few as 15 men (and two goaltenders) as a result of having too few funds for an average-sized roster.
After an NHL-worst 9–22–2 start to the season, John MacLean was fired as head coach, and Jacques Lemaire, who had retired as the Devils' head coach in the off-season, was hired as interim head coach.[9]
Following the trade of captain Jamie Langenbrunner, the Devils managed an astonishing turnaround. After the start of the second half of the season, the Devils saw a dramatic increase in offensive production, in addition to the outstanding performance by backup goaltender Johan Hedberg. The Devils turned their record around from 10–29–2 on January 9 to 32–32–4 by March 12, with a point percentage of over 80% during their 22–3–2 stretch. Following a win against New York Islanders on March 12, the Devils found themselves six points out of the final playoff berth with a game in hand on the eighth-placed New York Rangers, and a hope of making the playoffs for a 14th consecutive season had been renewed among the fans. The team faded, however, finishing 12 points behind the Rangers.
With the injured Zach Parise missing 69 of the Devils' 82 regular season games, the team struggled offensively, finishing 30th overall in goals scored with just 171 (excluding three shootout-winning goals). They also finished 30th overall in power-play goals scored, with 34, and power-play opportunities, with 237. However, the Devils were the most disciplined team in the league once again, with only 241 power-play opportunities against, and they tied the Los Angeles Kings for the fewest power-play goals allowed with 40.[10][11]
At the conclusion of the season, head coach Jacques Lemaire announced that he would not return to coach the Devils in the 2011–12 season.[12]
Playoffs
Following a 3–1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on April 2, the Devils were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 1996.
Media
This season was Mike Emrick's final season as the television play-by-play announcer for the New Jersey Devils since he moved to NBC Sports. Steve Cangialosi would replace Emrick the following year. However, Chico Resch continued to be a TV color commentator. Radio coverage was still on WFAN with Matt Loughlin and Sherry Ross.
Standings
Divisional standings
GP | W | L | OTL | ROW | GF | GA | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | y-Philadelphia Flyers | 82 | 47 | 23 | 12 | 44 | 259 | 223 | 106 |
2 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 82 | 49 | 25 | 8 | 39 | 238 | 199 | 106 |
3 | New York Rangers | 82 | 44 | 33 | 5 | 35 | 233 | 198 | 93 |
4 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 35 | 174 | 209 | 81 |
5 | New York Islanders | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 26 | 229 | 264 | 73 |
Conference standings
R | Div | GP | W | L | OTL | ROW | GF | GA | Pts | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | z – Washington Capitals | SE | 82 | 48 | 23 | 11 | 43 | 224 | 197 | 107 | |
2 | y – Philadelphia Flyers | AT | 82 | 47 | 23 | 12 | 44 | 259 | 223 | 106 | |
3 | y – Boston Bruins | NE | 82 | 46 | 25 | 11 | 44 | 246 | 195 | 103 | |
4 | Pittsburgh Penguins | AT | 82 | 49 | 25 | 8 | 39 | 238 | 199 | 106 | |
5 | Tampa Bay Lightning | SE | 82 | 46 | 25 | 11 | 40 | 247 | 240 | 103 | |
6 | Montreal Canadiens | NE | 82 | 44 | 30 | 8 | 41 | 216 | 209 | 96 | |
7 | Buffalo Sabres | NE | 82 | 43 | 29 | 10 | 38 | 245 | 229 | 96 | |
8 | New York Rangers | AT | 82 | 44 | 33 | 5 | 35 | 233 | 198 | 93 | |
8.5 | |||||||||||
9 | Carolina Hurricanes | SE | 82 | 40 | 31 | 11 | 35 | 236 | 239 | 91 | |
10 | Toronto Maple Leafs | NE | 82 | 37 | 34 | 11 | 32 | 218 | 251 | 85 | |
11 | New Jersey Devils | AT | 82 | 38 | 39 | 5 | 35 | 174 | 209 | 81 | |
12 | Atlanta Thrashers | SE | 82 | 34 | 36 | 12 | 29 | 223 | 269 | 80 | |
13 | Ottawa Senators | NE | 82 | 32 | 40 | 10 | 30 | 192 | 250 | 74 | |
14 | New York Islanders | AT | 82 | 30 | 39 | 13 | 26 | 229 | 264 | 73 | |
15 | Florida Panthers | SE | 82 | 30 | 40 | 12 | 26 | 195 | 229 | 72 |
bold – qualified for playoffs; y – Won division; z – Placed first in conference (and division)
AT – Atlantic Division, NE – Northeast Division, SE – Southeast Division
Schedule and results
Pre-season
Preseason: 2-1-3 (Home: 2-0-1; Road: 0-1-2)
Win Loss Overtime/Shootout Loss |
Regular season
2010-11 Game Log: 38-39-5, 81 Points (Home: 22-16-3; Road: 16-23-2) | |
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October: 3-8-1, 7 Points (Home: 0-4-1; Road: 3-4-0)
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November: 5-6-1, 11 Points (Home: 4-1-1; Road: 1-5-0)
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December: 2-11-0, 4 Points (Home: 2-6-0; Road: 0-5-0)
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January: 6-5-1, 13 Points (Home: 3-2-0; Road: 3-3-1)
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February: 11-1-1, 23 Points (Home: 5-0-1; Road: 6-1-0)
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March: 8-5-1, 17 Points (Home: 5-2-0; Road: 3-3-1)
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April: 3-3-0, 6 Points (Home: 3-1-0; Road: 0-2-0)
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2010-11 Schedule
Win (2 Points) Loss (0 Points) Overtime/Shootout Loss (1 Point) |
Player statistics
Skaters
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; +/− = Plus/Minus; PIM = Penalty Minutes
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Goaltenders
Regular season | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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†Denotes player spent time with another team before joining Devils. Stats reflect time with Devils only.
‡Traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with Devils only.
- Pos = Position; GPI = Games played in; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes; +/- = Plus/minus; PPG = Power-play goals; SHG = Short-handed goals; GWG = Game-winning goals
- Min, TOI = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T,T/OT = Ties; OTL = Overtime losses; GA = Goals-against; GAA = Goals-against average; SO = Shutouts; SA = Shots against; SV = Shots saved; SV% = Save percentage;
Awards and records
Awards
Regular Season | |||||||||
Player | Award | Awarded | |||||||
Martin Brodeur[14] | NHL Third Star of the Week | January 24, 2011 | |||||||
Johan Hedberg[15] | NHL Second Star of the Week | February 21, 2011 | |||||||
Johan Hedberg[16] | NHL Third Star of the Month | February 2011 |
Records
Player | Record (Amount) | Achieved |
---|---|---|
Milestones
Regular Season | |||||||||
Player | Milestone | Reached | |||||||
Jason Arnott | 1,100th Career NHL Game | October 8, 2010 | |||||||
Matt Taormina | 1st Career NHL Game | October 8, 2010 | |||||||
Alexander Urbom | 1st Career NHL Game | October 8, 2010 | |||||||
Matt Taormina | 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | October 13, 2010 | |||||||
Matthew Corrente | 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | October 15, 2010 | |||||||
Matt Taormina | 1st Career NHL Goal | October 15, 2010 | |||||||
Jacob Josefson | 1st Career NHL Game | October 15, 2010 | |||||||
Olivier Magnan | 1st Career NHL Game | October 21, 2010 | |||||||
Alexander Vasyunov | 1st Career NHL Game | October 23, 2010 | |||||||
Alexander Vasyunov | 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | October 29, 2010 | |||||||
Bradley Mills | 1st Career NHL Game | October 30, 2010 | |||||||
Bradley Mills | 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | November 3, 2010 | |||||||
Stephen Gionta | 1st Career NHL Game | November 5, 2010 | |||||||
Mattias Tedenby | 1st Career NHL Game 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | November 10, 2010 | |||||||
Mattias Tedenby | 1st Career NHL Goal | November 12, 2010 | |||||||
Alexander Vasyunov | 1st Career NHL Goal | November 12, 2010 | |||||||
Henrik Tallinder | 500th Career NHL Game | November 18, 2010 | |||||||
Patrik Elias | 900th Career NHL Game | November 20, 2010 | |||||||
Mark Fayne | 1st Career NHL Game | November 22, 2010 | |||||||
Johan Hedberg | 300th Career NHL Game | November 22, 2010 | |||||||
Colin White | 100th Career NHL Assist | December 4, 2010 | |||||||
Colin White | 700th Career NHL Game | December 6, 2010 | |||||||
Mark Fayne | 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | December 15, 2010 | |||||||
Martin Brodeur | 1,100th Career NHL Game | December 23, 2010 | |||||||
Mark Fayne | 1st Career NHL Assist | December 26, 2010 | |||||||
Nick Palmieri | 1st Career NHL Goal | January 9, 2011 | |||||||
Jason Arnott | 500th Career NHL Assist | January 17, 2011 | |||||||
Vladimir Zharkov | 1st Career NHL Goal | January 17, 2011 | |||||||
Dainius Zubrus | 300th Career NHL Assist | February 3, 2011 | |||||||
Jacques Lemaire | 600th Career NHL Win (coach) | February 10, 2011 | |||||||
Patrik Elias | 800th Career NHL Point | February 19, 2011 | |||||||
Anton Volchenkov | 100th Career NHL Point | February 19, 2011 | |||||||
Adam Mair | 600th Career NHL Game | March 6, 2011 | |||||||
Jacob Josefson | 1st Career NHL Assist 1st Career NHL Point | March 6, 2011 | |||||||
Jacob Josefson | 1st Career NHL Goal | March 12, 2011 | |||||||
Anssi Salmela | 100th Career NHL Game | March 17, 2011 | |||||||
Dave Steckel | 300th Career NHL Game | March 20, 2011 | |||||||
Travis Zajac | 400th Career NHL Game | March 25, 2011 | |||||||
Rod Pelley | 200th Career NHL Game | March 30, 2011 | |||||||
Brian Rolston | 400th Career NHL Assist | April 1, 2011 | |||||||
Ilya Kovalchuk | 700th Career NHL Game 700th Career NHL Point | April 6, 2011 | |||||||
Adam Henrique | 1st Career NHL Game | April 10, 2011 | |||||||
Alexander Urbom | 1st Career NHL Goal 1st Career NHL Point | April 10, 2011 | |||||||
David Clarkson | 100th Career NHL Point | April 10, 2011 |
Transactions
The Devils have been involved in the following transactions during the 2010–11 season.
Trades
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Lost via waivers
Player signings
Draft picksNew Jersey's picks at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in Los Angeles, California.
Final rosterUpdated April 10, 2011.[41]
See alsoFarm teamsThe Albany Devils (relocated from Lowell) of the American Hockey League and the Trenton Devils of the ECHL remain the New Jersey Devils' minor league affiliates for the 2010–11 season. References
External links |