The New Jersey Devils have a lot to prove in the upcoming 2025-26 NHL Season.
Last week I had my most viewed Tweet/X Post, whatever you want to call it…
It read:
“Anything short of a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals this season for the New Jersey Devils would be another failure. This core ain’t getting any younger. No more “the future is bright” nonsense. The time to win is NOW! #NJDevils”
I did not anticipate the attention it would receive and wanted to clarify some of my thoughts about it in this video.
In this video I discuss in depth the reasons why I believe this is the reality.
It is a big season upcoming for Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Jacob Markstrom and the rest of our beloved New Jersey Devils.
What do you think about all of this NJ Devils fans?
What would it take to mark a successful season for you?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
To see the video about the Luke Hughes contract saga referenced in this video, see below:
See our other videos for Devils Coverage!
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39 Comments
Hot take: we wonāt get past round one without a top six winger. Nico was carrying the entire team this year in the playoffs š¤·āāļø. Carolina has only gotten better Iām not sure how we can stack up to that and they are our kryptonite. However I think we did outscore them 5v5 this playoffs, the power play was dysfunctional with injured Dougie and no Luke.
I find it kind of ridiculous when people say Jack Hughes isnāt good in the playoffs because I feel like they forget heās only been in the playoffs onceā¦.. and then was injuredā¦ so.
Fitz is honestly killing me. We would be a genuine top cup contender if Fitz just put his balls on the table and got a top six winger, three C too but. Palat is just such a black hole, and putting up these numbers WITH Bratt and Jack, disappointing. BIG MOVES. Iām sick of expecting nothing and knowing Fitz is never gonna make moves.
Agree, it will be very disappointing if they do not get out of the second round next season. Not a gloom and doomer but my faith in Fitzgerald just keeps getting less every season. Looking forward to the upcoming season, the offseason is dragging.
You top 6 skrit winger priority is yet another example that you don't know how to construct a winnable team. What top 6 winger are you talking about when the Devils cannot sign Little Hughes and you want to keep Dougie at the same time?š Get rid of Bratt or Dougie and then we can discuss a top 6 skrit winger. Number 1 priority for the Devils is 25 goals,60 points skritty 3C ( someone like Kadri), someone who can drive whole bottom 6. The Devils were good first half of the last season because bottom 6 was scoring. Once the scoring from them gone the Devils became bottom tier team. People who want Palat out haven't got a clue about hockey. He is more valuable to the team than Mercer. Trade Mercer for Kadri and the Devils have a capable bottom 6 and are great down the middle. And then figure out Dougie/Little Hughes dilemma. Keep one. Because you can't keep both. Even a 5-yo kid understands that. But apparently the whole Devils fandom does not get it.
I can excuse missing the playoffs and getting bounced (Fitz midseason GMing aside) if there is progress. Some of the best Devils teams managed these feats of failure amid the Cup run era. They have the talent to win a Cup with the defense and goaltending. There's enough offense to win tight games. Whatever they were doing in December 2024, they need to figure out how to play that way April, May and June. If they can't play well in the playoffs, at some point have to wonder if a re-tool, hockey-trade is warranted to switch out some top guys.
Hopefully this upcoming season Keefe and the coaching staff will leave Timo on the RW for the whole season. If so I wouldnāt be surprised if he puts up 35+ goals
Success to me this year would be Luke taking another step forward in development, Gritsyuk showing he belongs, Jack actually staying healthy, Timo hitting ~30 goals, Nico and Jesper replicating what they did last year, and the team winning 1 round (and/or beating Carolina). Given the known deficiencies (center depth and grit to withstand PO hockey) that mgmt refuses to improve – that's the best I can personally hope for. Anything above that is great, all things considered.
There is nothing to misinterpret about your post. Our team is not performing as well as it should. A team is a reflection of their coaching and management. Very simple and straight forward.
TF(Tom Fitz) is the definition of insane…..or at least displaying insanity. Same team expecting different results. I get we have some additions but they won't move the needle. They're similar style players that left. They'll keep it from regressing but I doubt this current roster will give us different results. We need more and deserve more as a fan base.
Once our cracks are exposed, Fitz doesn't have the balls to fix them. We've seen it year after year. "Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, can't get fooled again."
I agree we need a deep run in the playoffs. I donāt want to just make the playoffs or win one round, we need to go on a run. Like you said, these players are not super young anymore, theyāre going into the prime of their careers. If we donāt go on a run, I think personally, itās a failure of a season
I just picked my games for our Flex plan on Tuesday. But I don't have very high hopes.
Our bottom 6 forwards aren't scaring anyone. They needed to get a true 3rd line center, and Fitz failed at that. Drafting has been horrible as well, as we have NOTHING of value to bring up from the AHL.
I hope I'm wrong, but there are way too many Ifs with this team to expect much from them.
100% agree with you. That being said though Iāve never been more pessimistic about this team 23-24 absolute disaster, and last year was a disaster too. The ONLY reason we even made the playoffs was because every team below us sucked too. Jack going down wasnāt the reason our season took a swan dive, our lack of top 6 depth was exposed, we knew last year it was a huge problem and it was addressed by getting Tatarā¦
I actually really like fitz, and what he did last season was pretty amazing. This is 2 seasons in a row though kicked to the curb by him.
Eastern conference finals is a must, if we miss the playoffs I would not be upset at fitz getting canned.
Kia Ora, Ace. Conference Final sounds realistic. Let's go Devils š
Yeah, Ace! Love the once proud franchise speech, fired me up. Letās go Devils!
I agree, the situation we are in with players and whatnot we should be making it further then we are
for me winning 4 in a row and going past the second round will be a success
Time to raise hell, ace. Think we could trade palat for Chinakhov?š
Yeah definitely agree…if they don't make the ECF this year, Fitz needs to go. We have completely regressed from the 22-23 season…
Also Iād be interested in whose sticks those are in the background. Assuming they are game used. Easton was big in dynasty Devils era, when I was playing as a kid. Man Iād like to be playing roller now, nothing near me. Like in Clerks, I just did a Kevin Smith dive since you had Don on.
I absolutely agree, we should be going further than the other 6 metro teams. the only problem is that the team absolutely breaks against the canes
Win now. Period. Done with the excuses. Done with ālet it rideā attitude. LGD!!!
the first 5 games of this season, will depend if we show life and fight and if we are truly ready for the ECF.
To go deeper in the playoffs.
All the Devils will do is re-sign Luke Hughes. If Luke Hughes's contract exceeds the salary cap, then the Devils will put Kovacevic on LTIR. And when Kovacevic comes off the LTIR, the Devils will make a minor trade/ multiple minor trades just to get under the cap (unless there are injuries). I don't think the Devils will make any trades if Luke Hughes new contract DOESN'T exceed the salary cap. I also don't think the Devils will trade either Hamilton, Palat, or Mercer.
Your probably going have to beat Caps and Canes to get there, maybe even rangers. But they havenāt beat the Canes since 2001
Jack isn't getting younger and that kid was suspected to be a BUST but I was happy to believe in him. Kid is SICK and really want to see the Devils BACK into playoff hockey. Former Yotes fan and current Mammoth fan
Luke and Jack are leaving for Vancouver.
Ace…
Facts: Canes demand greatness. Rod demands greatness.
Cane's were head and shoulders ahead of us.
Cane's got much better.
How do we win two playoff series?
(I want this to happen)
Man I look at this roster and I donāt see it. Fitz ruined something that couldnāt be ruined
This team was supposed to be contending. Instead, we're lucky if they're even competitive in the playoffs. Some people are okay with that, and that blows my mind. They have Stockholm Syndrome…losing mentality has now even invaded the fans.
Another great video, I honestly canāt disagree with much you said. That being said I am unwilling to budge on the notion that Mercer needs to finally step up. The guy has done nothing but regress since the 22-23ā season. If he can get back to that 55-60 point range our bottom 6 will be tremendously better.
The move that still makes me mad is Toffoli being traded to Jets for just picks. I thought he was the top 6 winger we have been looking for and we should have tried to re-sign him then to let him go for picks
They barely made the playoffs last season, 91 points. They replaced a few bottom six forwards. Still cap strapped. How do they get to ECF? Their off-season didn't move the needle much. Unless they make some moves during the season. They don't have the cap space unless they start dumping contracts.
Iād love to see us find that Madden even at trade deadline
Gomez EliĆ”Å” connection
I really think cody glass is going to shock a lot of ppl this season
We need someone with attitude in the top 6
100% agree Ace! Felt that way past 2 seasons. The core is there. Season approachingā¦letās gooooo