"This looms as a repeat of last season, when the Devils floundered early and caught fire late. It won't be as drastic, but it will reflect the difference between lacking and having Travis Zajac.

One key question is whether new coach Pete DeBoer is more like John MacLean or Jacques Lemaire, and the early answer is somewhere in between. DeBoer wants his forwards coming well back, but has ordered the green light for his defensemen to pinch, charge down the offensive boards for loose pucks to maintain possession in the opponents' end.

Trouble is, that style means 2-on-1s against, no matter how dutifully forwards cover for defensemen. And 2-on-1s are not the sort of attacks Martin Brodeur stops best."