New Jersey’s speed upgrade this offseason could push Sheldon Keefe to tweak his ‘Fight The Panic’ approach. Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, Arseni Gritsyuk, and Cody Glass bring faster skating and pace, potentially enabling fewer dump-ins and more controlled zone exits and stretch passes. The Devils’ core—Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier—gives Keefe a talent base to press teams with high-octane pressure. If Keefe leans into stress-hockey with this speed, the Devils could sustain more push, even when leading. Identity will matter as much as pace, with Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Simon Nemec anchoring a faster, more dynamic defense while the forwards push tempo and transition.

Speed alone isn’t the answer, but it changes the calculus: more rush chances, smarter zone entries, and a shift toward offense from behind the goal line. If Keefe embraces a hybrid style—less dump-ins, more controlled entries, and selective stretch plays—the Devils’ ecosystem could maximize breakout potential and PP efficiency. Talent confirms they can win; the question is whether the system evolves enough to leverage the speed and sustain it through the season.

Your take: will Keefe lean into speed and pressure, or keep the core mechanics intact even as the skating becomes markedly faster?