The Final Run In; What Cardiff Devils Need to Do

League Record So Far; 26 – 10 – 5, 57pts, 3rd Place

L10GP; 5-4-1

CARDIFF, WALES – The 2024/25 Cardiff Devils season ended in disappointment, frustration, disbelief and there was even more on the horizon.

From dominating on the scoreboard and on the table, to falling off a cliff, losing in domestic finals, being unable to gather road wins against near-competitive rivals and a caveat of lifting a tea-tray in a diminished, scandal ridden European competition.

The outcome was not what anyone expected, let alone wanted with a an all star team signed ready for a full sweep of silverware.

Then, they lost their coach, who jumped ship as soon as a fresh offer arrived, months after agreeing to a multi-year extension.

No coach, no domestic success, a team riddled with injuries and a sour taste in the air. In retrospect, it was no better than the year before that or the one before that.

No progress. No leadership. Rudderless.

The offseason started with a vow to piece together a team for the fans to be proud of, to win silverware. Then, the first off-season acquisition.

Paul Thompson.

A well known, successful coach of an EIHL of yesteryear, fresh from playoff success in Denmark. It was a shock to the system, which quickly turned into a renewed sense of hope.

If anyone would get it and could do it, it would be him.

Then, as the offseason linger on, the announcements for new signings being made, it became a debate of whether this new team would be able to not just replicate last seasons’ attempts, but to better them.

It was speculated there would be a clear out of players that had reached their ceiling and could do no better, this fell flat as more returned than expected.

Then, the landmark signings.

With an announcement that came as a word of caution, to not get the hopes up of a silverware season, but for one of cautious spending, with the aim to entertain.

The season started brightly, so much so, the team were realistically one win from clearing the Challenge Cup group stage, they were top 3 to the summit (briefly) and were first to 100 goals, leading the league at one point.

Then, they slumped out of the cup, not even qualifying for the next rounds and have since battled to stay on games, instead of comfortably putting teams away.

They had a failed triple header foray into Scotland and since the new year, they have regressed week after week.

Now, with 13 games left of regular season and just 7 home games, it is more important than ever to see what this team can do, to salvage something from a season of promise, prosperity and purpose.

Here is what I expect to see for the key remainder of the regular season:

1. Rediscover that net front swagger

As mentioned already, there were key caveats to the team dynamic and ability. They lead not just in goals scored, but were first to 100 on the season, ahead of juggernauts Steelers and Panthers.

Devils have slipped to 4th overall in the GF column, 16 behind leaders Giants, who they face in a DH in a few weeks’ time, after losing in a tight one goal game at home.

They have the highest volume of shots in the entire league (1,591) yet they cannot seem to put anything away. Couple that with their worst power play ever, even worse than under Dupont, this inability to convert or find that ruthlessness in front of net has become a self inflicted wound that has now begun to fester more than ever before.

Usually when a wound is this infected, counter measures are put into place, such as surgery to amputate to stop the rot.

This hasn’t even been considered over the last 5 seasons.

It shows, embarrassingly.

They are actually above last seasons’ total at this time of year, by 13 more scored. This shouldn’t have been difficult considering the team has largely been unaffected by injuries and less hockey played overall.

They also have the leagues’ 2nd best GA column with the most shut outs across all tandems. The ingredients are there, it is time to see them put to work.

2. Lock in on the road

After a visit from Fife this weekend, Devils head to an important road trip for the first half of March, which could become season defining not just for them, but for the league and all their rivals.

They face Steelers, before a DH in Belfast, then a trip to Braehead to face-off against a tricky Clan side.

After a home stint of equally 4 games, they hit the road twice again to round of the season vs Blaze and Panthers.

All teams that can and have beaten this group throughout the season.

As it stands, they have 52.4% win record on the road, taking 11 from 21 games played. Of those, 7 needed more than regulation, with more OTL/SOL’s than wins (by one).

Outright regulation losses account for just 28.5% of their road record. That is just 14.6% of their record overall. It is not damaging, not in the slightest.

The issue, is the opponents.

There are 6 games left against the teams above the Devils, with a home/away set vs Panthers and Steelers respectively.

Against the Panthers their road record reflects their league record as a whole for this contest, 50%. Against the Steelers, they have suffered the most in the league, losing both home games and only one win on the road, so whilst it is also 50% on the road, 25% in total vs their nearest rivals.

The Giants record is similar to Panthers, with the home contests complete, taking two wins from three and a loss at the start of the campaign. This double header (DH) is more important than ever.

They can take points and wins from Nottingham and have yet to be dismantled by Giants. They have had an unusual tilt vs Steelers, so the remaining games need to also hold importance, more for mental strength and confidence than anything else.

Taking just 41.6% of available wins vs these teams is far too low to be competitive, which this fanbase expects, no matter the team, finances or cost increases.

3. Redemption is paramount

If there has been any locker room, team meeting or coach conference discussions to put last season behind them, to focus on the here and now instead of taking personal emotion into these next 3 road games, then it would be a catastrophic disaster before a puck has even been dropped.

These are key, defining moments, not just for a fixture or in a calendar, for the sake of integrity, of purpose and to forge a playoff mindset.

Considering the amount of returning players, that DH series, CC Final and the season vs Giants has to be in the back of their minds. They have to be given the opportunity to put that pain and emotion into these upcoming games to not only even the score, but to avenge the embarrassment, as well as to quell the doubts around them.

Both on the ice and in the stands.

Their recent losses vs Giants have shown them that they can go toe to toe and have already claimed two very good victories on home ice.

You have to go back to 2024 on the second DH fixture to find a Devils win at the SSE Arena. That seasons’ Playoff Final was captured by Giants over Devils.

If there is no anger toward that, then pride was already lost and the result can be a foregone conclusion. If this team was supposedly built for grit and determination, now is the time to show it.

4. Change up the entire power play

Much of these near wins, the misses, the one goal games, matches needing more than regulation have one constant, lingering, overshadowing reality.

A dire power play, that even if it was 50% more accurate and successful, it would still be mid-table (23.8%). If that was the case, then perhaps some of those losses, especially on the road and vs the ‘big teams’, might have ended differently and this run in would look a lot better.

Those are the key moments that define a season, ultimately and it is something which has frustrated this fan base since 2022.

3 different coaches, a very consistent returning core, the same outcomes.

Whilst it is very difficult to find particular faults to his game, Brandon Estes does have one failing and it compounds the entire set up (to failure) on the power play.

His lack of driving the play disjoints and nullifies any momentum for the other skaters around him, allowing the PK to set up a blue line trap and box out the forwards, forcing reset after reset.

When they do manage to battle through to the OZ, it is a game of cat and mouse with their own possession. Slow decision making, passing overkill and a stagnant set up, allows the PK unit to set up their kill-box and force the play wide.

Then it is a case of recover from the mid-slot or pinch a cross-point pass at the blue line.

Rinse, repeat.

When the 2nd unit gets a chance, it is usually to battle back possession, but then the cycle almost repeats, when they approach the blue line, fake an entry (to create gaps in the OZ), but then the zone entries either flail to nothing, or once gained, even at some form of pace, the cycle continues.

So, what is missing and what is needed?

A) First and foremost an experienced ‘quarter-backer’. Gleason Fournier comes to mind. No nonsense, just business. Coast to coast.

B) Carry at speed, gain the zone at pace and put the goalie under pressure.

On the man advantage, there should be no time given to the defending PK unit. On the PK, you should realistically be living in fight or flight mode with your head on a swivel.

Against the Devils, it is an easy two minutes to gather your energy, sit back, wait and pounce.

We are a week away from March and this has yet to be addressed.

C) Waste no time and get those shots firing. For a high volume team in terms of shooting, remember, most of all the teams in the EIHL, they surely do struggle in this department for any form of man advantage.

Yes, confidence plays a huge part, however, given the amount of veterans in this line up, it is beggars belief how they haven’t sussed getting angry with it and taking the special team by the scruff of the neck and doing something about it.

You ideally want no more than two players to distribute on the PP. Any more and everyone is looking to pass the puck.

Seem familiar?

D) Know your strengths. They already have a puck carrier (Fournier), he needs to gain the zone at pace and to ensure a clean entry. To distribute, usually falls upon the carrier, so one more max is needed. This is either Sanford or Martin, as both enjoy this as part of their game.

For the finisher, having two to execute in this area would be beneficial, so MacDonald comes to mind, as long as he knows that is his role and focus.

Other than that, you would need someone to be able to handle the net, cause confusion in the slot and take defenders away, who can also finish when the moment is right.

Cue Riley Brandt, at a push, Kohen Olischefski. Both have found the net on the PP and are 2 of the top 5 scorers on the team, along with MacDonald, Sanford and Martin.

Fournier compliments the unit by being the highest scoring defence man on the roster so far.

In no instance should Estes (currently) be included. For the 2nd unit, it is to over power and sap the energy of the penalty killers. Having Barrow, Oligny, Kontos, Ferguson and Yaremko on this unit would simply crush and punish their opponents, even if no juice was squeezed.

Off the puck is also key. Once you are set up, realistically, you have the time and space to control the play. The 1-3-1 set up is a usual go too. Yet, the play often gets caught out if the PK unit has time to set up also.

This creates the aforementioned scenarios the fan base knows all too well. The 2-1-2 has to be the most sussed out of this league in general, when was the last time a puck was walked into the net from behind the goal line either side of the net?

Finding one timers needs to be re-addressed, but using the bumper option for the central skater to find the passing lanes is key, as this creates the habit of movement off the puck and can really disorientate the defending PK unit.

Pace always, precision is the hammer.

4. Utilise the resources to hand

The IIHF international transfer deadline has long passed, even with a NHL-lead Olympics in between, for the UK leagues, unless it is for IR cover, the likelihood of any new players is off the table.

For the first time in what seems forever, the club has no serious, long term injuries to deal with, which means whatever rosters are decided per game day going forward, that is coaches choice of who to leave out.

The team collected a solitary point from a shootout loss on the road to Panthers last weekend. Fallen to 9th on the game week 24 EIHL Face-Off Podcast Power Rankings as a result.

This was by no means due to who was played over who. It reflected the nature of the make up of this team. High volume, low reward, disciplined but unable to capitalise when it matters.

The next game is a home fixture against a beleaguered, scandal ridden, SNL level team that will struggle to fill their import quota on the roster due to the amount of departures in recent weeks.

It was a solid line up, bar a few weeks to strengthen the top 6 in terms of physicality, so seeing the same again would come as no surprise.

Against this next team, would be ideal to let the players loose and play their game, at home, in front of a packed house. Rest the D units, with Oligny-Fournier, Estes-Helgesen and Mosey-Richardson would create more positive attacking and shut down play defensively.

Reinstitute the ‘Pio Line’ for a fun filled group of players that would cause mayhem for the bewildered visitors, who would no doubt struggle to keep up with their energy.

A veteran line of Perlini – Martin – Ferguson would also dominate in terms of skill and laser sharp focus that could pick apart the worst defence in the league.

There is so much to utilise before hitting the road, the key caveat which should see some considerable opportunities, would be to flex their muscles for the PP. Get it going now, then it will be an easier few weeks on the road in difficult arenas.

5. Reforge those foundations

Following those 5 pivotal games, with 4 on the road against opposition from all parts of the UK, comes a long awaited home stand.

A tricky customer in the Panthers, which is split evenly on the season series, then a home DH vs Stars, against one of the worst teams in the EIHL.

To round off the home stand, is a visit from a feisty combatant, 5th placed Storm who have brought intensity, shenanigans and close games vs the Devils across the campaign. A game vs them should not be taken lightly.

However, before the penultimate run-in to determine league positions for the playoffs would be complete, this is a time to rebuild and assert that swagger they found at the start of the year.

With the hope there would be victories over the league leaders at least, this would be a final expose to show the home fans what this club means to them as players and to firmly prove they can handle the pressure and compete, even on a tighter budget.

Devils in the league have had just 3 games with a score line of 7 or more in their favour. Two against the bottom clubs and one against a team that struggled at the time.

To contrast against their immediate rivals, Giants have had 5, including a demolition vs Steelers, who have two go either way against them, but their own large victories came with a shutout.

The same can be said for Panthers in terms of securing two victories with a score line of 7 or more. Devils are right up there.

Use this home stand as a solid foundation to run up the scoreline, even though as previously stated, it is well and good vas Stars/Flyers, commanding victories need to come vs the other 7 teams.

In the next few fixtures, they face all but one of the leagues 9 opponents. Finish strong, set the tone.