New Jersey Devils: How Will We Know When To Be Sellers?

The New Jersey Devils are having a very bad season, but somehow they are still four points out of a playoff spot. With the Metropolitan Division playing so poorly, how can the Devils figure out when they are officially out of contention?

The New Jersey Devils have a very strange issue this season. Obviously, things are going about as bad as possible, yet they are right in the thick of the playoff race. It’s not a joke, this team is just four points out of third place in the Metropolitan Division.

The Devils just ended a six game losing streak, yet are just two wins away from being in a postseason position. That seems impossible, but that’s how the Metro is shaking out this season.

This could be a good thing, or a bad thing. Let’s start with the obvious. It’s very good that the Devils could have the terrible start to the season, yet still have this close a chance to make the playoffs. If this was just a fluke, and the Devils talent is good enough to win, then the fact they survived is a good thing.

However, something different could be afoot. What happens if the Devils are really this bad, and they have to bottom out? How will they know when to do it?

Ray Shero is tasked with that decision. It’s not an easy one, especially when the Devils want to re-sign Taylor Hall in the offseason. How can this team convince their star player to stick around if they go through another season at the bottom of the standings?

However, it could hurt the Devils for years if the team stays in contention with a bad team and ends up missing the playoffs. Imagine, the Devils keeping this roster intact to try and make a late-season run. They would keep players like Ben Lovejoy, Marcus Johansson, Brian Boyle and Keith Kinkaid who may all leave on July 1st. Instead of turning those players into future assets, they will lose them for nothing.

It turns out, the terrible Metropolitan Division could hurt the Devils for years to come. Not only would the team get a worse draft pick if they play for the playoffs, but they would lose out on turning players into picks and prospects for next season and beyond.

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This isn’t to say that the Devils should quit now. It is way too early for that. This team just needs to know the place where they should starting looking towards 2019-20.

Let’s take a look back at the terrible 2016-17 season. The Devils used that season to get the number-one overall pick and drafted Nico Hischier. He’s going to change the franchise forever. It  almost didn’t happen. The Devils were 25-23-10 on February 18th. The trade deadline was quickly coming, and the team was at a crossroads. They had to decide whether they were going to push for the playoffs, or become sellers.

Well, as it turns out, their play decided for them. They lost an unprecedented 10 games in a row. By the time the deadline came, Shero was selling everything that wasn’t tied down.

This season, the terrible division that is the Metro may cause the Devils to make a harder decision.

The Devils have to decide how far is too far to compete this season. One lost season may hurt their chances to re-sign Hall right away, but it won’t stop it entirely. If the Devils have a good plan in place, and open their checkbooks, Hall might re-sign either way.

If you ask me, once the Devils get to eight points out of a playoff spot, they should really consider moving some assets. With so many teams fighting for the same position, even if it’s a low point total, the Devils need to know when it’s time to throw the towel on the season.