New Jersey Devils key statistics

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, three key statistics for the New Jersey Devils.

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1. Defensive stalwart

Andy Greene had 1,711:02 of ice time last season, the sixth time he led the Devils in the past nine seasons.
Over the past three seasons, Greene has started an NHL-leading 1,767 shifts in the defensive zone at 5-on-5, and 976 in the offensive zone for a zone start percentage of 35.58 percent. That is second-lowest among Devils defensemen to play at least 20 games during that time (Steven Santini, 35.56).
Greene ranked third in the NHL last season in shorthanded ice time (262:29), the fourth time in five seasons he's finished in the top three. In those five seasons, the Devils rank eighth with a penalty killing percentage of 82.3 percent.

2. Hart for Hall

The Devils' 243 goals last season were the most they've scored since 2000-01 (295). It was a significant increase from the 180 scored in 2016-17.
The biggest factor was Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall, who had 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) in 76 games. The 26-year-old forward had 53 points (20 goals, 33 assists) in 72 games in 2016-17.
Hall had 41 points more than the Devils' second-leading scorer, center Nico Hischier. It was the largest gap in the NHL between any team's top two scorers. Hall came within three points of the Devils' single-season record set by forward Patrik Elias, who had 96 points (40 goals, 56 assists) in 2000-01.
In two seasons with the Devils, Hall has increased their share of 5-on-5 shot attempts from 46.45 percent to 51.91 percent, for a Relative SAT of plus-5.46 percent that ranks 18th among the 530 forwards who played at least 20 NHL games in that time.

3. Red hot rookies

Another factor in New Jersey's increased production was contributions from its rookies.
Hischier was tied for sixth among NHL rookies with 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) in 82 games, and Will Butcher led rookie defensemen with 44 points (five goals, 39 assists) in 81 games.
Other rookie contributors last season were forwards Jesper Bratt, who had 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 74 games, and Blake Coleman, who had 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 79 games. Devils rookies scored 156 points (51 goals, 105 assists), which ranked second in the NHL (Boston Bruins, 174).