Pucks and Pitchforks
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New Jersey Devils: Fans Should Prepare For More Disrespect

By Nick Villano

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils takes a break during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Lightning defeated the Devils 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils takes a break during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Lightning defeated the Devils 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils did not appear in the first Super Sixteen produced by NHL.com. This will be one of many analysts who disrespect the team until they prove them wrong.

Another preseason, and another publication giving the New Jersey Devils zero credit. One cannot blame them, yet. The Devils did very little in the offseason, and made the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. Still, it stings when the team boasting the league’s MVP and a number-one overall pick coming into his second season.

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The Super Sixteen is something NHL.com puts every week during the season, and every so often during the offseason. The Devils very rarely ever make the Super Sixteen. This season, many hoped the upside of the team would get analysts excited, but it did not work.

The Devils ended up ranking 19th in the NHL according to the ranking. When looking at the ranking, it’s not all bad. Writers ranked them eighth in the Eastern Conference, which means they have them in the playoffs.

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The Super Sixteen takes the opinion of eleven writers and averages them out. Two writers with Devils connections, Tom Gulitti and Mike Morreale, had the Devils on their list. Both had them 16th on their ranking, barely making it on the list.

There is no writer or analyst who’s ranking the Devils very high. It’s not a smart investment right now. The Devils got into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. Ray Shero did not make a major splash in free agency or on the trade market. There is no draft pick who’s ready to compete in the NHL this season. Plus, much of the NHL got better.

Add in the major injury to Cory Schneider, and much of these “top teams in the league” lists will likely come without the Devils. That’s okay, though. The same thing happened to the team last year, and it just adds extra motivation for a team that’s so mentally tough. This will get them going rather than make them upset.

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