Playoff Push Gives Eyes to Potential Trade Suitors
Plus, a check-in on the Devils' farm system and a fan mailbag.
Welcome to the THW New Jersey Devils Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our Devils writers.
In today’s edition, we feature a prospect update, as well as articles covering trade options with the Senators, future implications of the current playoff push, and a Twitter mailbag; please share this free substack with your hockey and Devils fan friends and family so they can subscribe and enjoy all the latest.
Now on to the good stuff….
Devils' Prospect Update: Feb. 6
February 7, 2024 by JP Gambatese (Premium Content)
Welcome to the first New Jersey Devils’ prospect update for the THW Substack!
The Devils’ farm system has been depleted in recent years, as prospects like Šimon Nemec and Luke Hughes have turned to the NHL and the team has graduated from needing to stock up on draft picks and young talent to competing for playoff success and trading away those assets for win-now pieces.
Still, it’s important to keep tabs on how the prospects are doing, and how valuable they might be to other teams.
Devils and Senators Could Be Perfect Trade Partners
February 7, 2024 by JP Gambatese
With the NHL trade deadline just over a month away, it’s time to look at potential trade partners for the New Jersey Devils. While yes, the Devils have struggled at times this season and are currently sitting outside a wild-card position, there are a plethora of reasons why the Devils should consider moving their picks and prospects for players who can contribute towards a playoff push now and in the future. The biggest two factors in this regard are health and goaltending.
The Senators, meanwhile, should be sellers this season — as a team with post-season aspirations before the seasons started, they’ve endured quite a disappointing year and have fallen well out of the playoff race. On paper, their team should be able to compete, but the results simply aren’t there. They fired their coach and continue to play uninspired hockey under a new system, so it’s clear that the roster just won’t cut it and needs, at the least, a shakeup. Enter the Devils, who, once they get some clarity in their net, should eye the Senators as a trade partner. There are some major (and minor) players that the Devils could certainly benefit from.
Devils’ Push for Playoffs Holds Future Implications
February 5, 2024 by Erica Rosenbaum
The New Jersey Devils have played 47 games in the 2023-24 season. Without sugarcoating the results of those 47 games, the season has been a huge disappointment. The team currently sits in fifth place in the Metropolitan Division and holds a record of 24-20-3. Quitely put, it’s not good enough.
Heading into the season, New Jersey was considered a Stanley Cup Contender based on their +1000 odds, which was tied for second with the Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Only two teams had +900 odds, the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes.
Now, as the team looks ahead to the remaining 35 games, the pending results of their playoff push could have serious implications for the organization. Missing the playoffs a year after breaking a franchise record for most wins in a season will substantially change the organization. Therefore, these next few months of Devils hockey hold heavy value.
Devils Mailbag: Playoffs, Goaltending, Coaching, & Grilled Cheese
February 3, 2024 by Josh Reinitz
With the team taking a week off, it is time to answer the questions on the minds of Devils fans. As always, these are real questions submitted on Twitter.
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