Devils Position Confusing as Trade Deadline Looms
With the Devils close but out of a playoff spot, it's unsure whether or not they will be buyers or sellers.
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In today’s edition, we feature a couple of articles about the Devils’ potential routes at the trade deadline, a piece on why they’d be smart to target Jacob Markstrom, an article pertaining to potential coaching replacements, and an article about the Hughes brothers’ struggles. Please share this free substack with your hockey and Devils fan friends and family so they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
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Now on to the good stuff….
Devils’ Should Wait for Offseason to Make Major Moves
February 29, 2024 by Erica Rosenbaum
The 2023-24 New Jersey Devils season is turning out to be one to forget. From preseason perfection to recurring disappointment, the fans and organization have experienced countless frustrations throughout the first 59 games of the campaign. For most of the second half, New Jersey has been sitting behind the Philadelphia Flyers, trying to overtake the third spot in the Metropolitan Division. Unfortunately, the team has fallen flat in multiple pivotal games to shrink the gap and they have no momentum on their side.
Markstrom’s Age Shouldn’t Scare the Devils From Trading for Him
February 29, 2024 by Josh Reinitz
The worst-kept secret in hockey is that the New Jersey Devils are looking for an elite goaltender. New Jersey has a crop of young prospects who have shown potential but are years away from reaching the NHL. The Calgary Flames’ Jacob Markstrom is the best fit among the netminders who are rumored to be available.
4 Devils’ Coaching Candidates if Lindy Ruff Is Fired
February 28, 2024 by JP Gambatese
The New Jersey Devils began the season as a consensus Stanley Cup contender. With nearly 60 games in the bank, they’re not even in a playoff position — they’re five points behind the Philadelphia Flyers in the Metropolitan Division and five points back of the Tampa Bay Lightning for the second wild-card spot. To be fair, there have been quite a few legitimate reasons for the Devils’ standings woes — they’ve dealt with a plethora of injuries this season, including significant time missed by star players Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, and Dougie Hamilton, a lot of which came with a good few games of overlap. On top of that, goaltending has been a monumental issue, with the Devils’ netminders combining for the fourth-worst goals saved above expected (GSAx) in the league.
4 Trade Destinations for Devils’ Alex Holtz
February 22, 2024 by JP Gambatese
With the trade deadline approaching, all eyes are on New Jersey Devils general manager (GM) Tom Fitzgerald as he tries to push the Devils toward a firm playoff position. They’ve had a disappointing season, but that can mostly be chalked up to injury woes and atrocious goaltending. A splash at the trade deadline can certainly be enough to put the Devils back into a comfortable playoff spot.
Devils’ Hughes Brothers Struggling at Crucial Point
February 28, 2024 by Daniel Amoia
The New Jersey Devils have spiraled, going from potential Cup contenders to unlikely to play past Game 82. There are plenty of theories for what exactly went wrong – whether it be goaltending, coaching, the general manager’s inability to act quickly enough, etc…
Devils Should Buy Early, Sell Late at the Deadline
February 27, 2024 by Josh Reinitz
In ten short days, the players of recent speculation will finally know their fate. The race for the third seed in the Metropolitan Division is a morass of four teams, all within seven points or less of the third-place Philadelphia Flyers for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
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