Devils Still Clinging to Playoff Hopes & Brian Halonen Deserves an Extended Look
Should the Devils abandon their playoff aspirations, though?
Welcome to the THW New Jersey Devils Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our Devils writers.
In today’s edition, we feature pieces on why Brian Halonen deserves more of an opportunity in the NHL and Devils’ players who should be considered for the prophesied Amazon series, a recap of the Devils’ 6-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs, and articles on why the Devils should consider abandoning their playoff goals and on a few storylines to follow down the stretch.
Don’t forget to check out all of our FREE team Substacks, and sign up for your favorites…or all of them if you want.
You can also upgrade your subscription to a paid THW account, and get access to ALL of our Premium content from ALL of our team Substacks for one low price.
Now on to the good stuff….
Devils Should Give Brian Halonen an Extended Look
March 29, 2024 by Daniel Amoia
The New Jersey Devils’ playoff odds currently sit at 17.5% (per MoneyPuck). Given the unlikelihood, there’s still a lot of reason to keep a close eye on their remaining contests, with potential to unveil some important storylines. One of those underrated storylines has been the Devils’ inability to garner consistent scoring from the bottom half of their lineup. Insert Brian Halonen, a 25-year-old late bloomer who played all four years in college and joined the organization as an undrafted free agent signing in March 2022. Now, he looks primed to potentially take over a valuable role.
5 Devils the NHL Should Consider for Its Upcoming Amazon Series
March 27, 2024 by Josh Reinitz
While much of the drama at the NHL general manager meetings this week centered on potential rule changes and other tweaks to improve competitive balance, one of the more interesting reports is that the league has signed off on a documentary series to be produced and aired on Amazon next fall. The series is tentatively titled Fire on Ice and will be produced by the same company that made Full Swing and Drive to Survive. The NHL hopes that showcasing its young superstars will resonate with a younger fan base, like Formula 1 did after Drive to Survive, extending its popularity to North America to the point it now regularly holds races on the continent.
Devils’ Top Players Rally to Defeat Toronto in Offensive Showcase
March 27, 2024 by Erica Rosenbaum
The New Jersey Devils traveled to Canada to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs for the first time this season. The two teams will meet one another three times in three weeks, twice in Toronto and once in New Jersey. The Maple Leafs currently sit in the third spot in the Atlantic Division and have a high chance of playing the Boston Bruins or Florida Panthers in the opening round of the playoffs. The Devils sit five points out of a wildcard spot, with more games played than the teams they are chasing.
3 Reasons the Devils Should Abandon Playoff Pursuit
March 25, 2024 by Jordan Slompo
The New Jersey Devils have been through a roller coaster of emotions over the past few weeks. From coaching changes to surprise moves at the trade deadline, the team is still fighting for a playoff spot and remains in the race to surpass its opponents and bring some joy to the fans. But here’s a more pessimistic scenario: even with recent good performances, there is still a high probability the Newark team, five points back of the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot, will not qualify. I know fans want to see their team competing for titles, and it’s been a while since New Jersey has done that. But, at the current moment, here are three reasons why the Devils should set aside the idea of playoffs and focus on the upcoming seasons.
3 Devils Storylines To Follow in Final Stretch
March 22, 2024 by Daniel Amoia
The New Jersey Devils’ season has not met up to their very high preseason expectations. They have officially moved into moral victory territory – where playoffs are likely out of the equation and any remaining positive storylines offer a glimmer of hope amid their challenges.
The best way to ensure all of the New Jersey Devils content from The Hockey Writers comes directly to you is to subscribe or upgrade your subscription to premium, where you can get weekly columns on the team as well as exclusive player interviews and more. Thank you for being so supportive!