For a team that’s only been around for 35 years, the New Jersey Devils might have what’s considered a lot of rivalries.. The rivalries that New Jersey is generally associated with includes the Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, Penguins, and Capitals. That’s mostly because of the Metropolitan Division geographical landscape. One could get to these games by train, thus why we will call the the Amtrak Five.
However, there are plenty of other teams the Devils could build rivalries with beyond the Amtrak Five. Which teams could be the ones we hate in just a few years?
Columbus Blue Jackets
Over the course of New Jersey Devils realignment the past few seasons, the Columbus Bluejackets, and their coach John Tortorella always get under our skin. Torts has been known to throw curse words like an HBO series character.
Another one of the things that gets the blood boiling is Nick Foligno and Brandon Dubinsky. Dubinsky over the years has been one of the thorns John Tortorella has been able to unleash since facing Peter DeBoer back in the day, and yet it’s still the same against John Hynes. Foligno always has very timely goals versus the Devils whether it’s a playoff season or a down season. Also, anytime the Bluejackets score in Columbus that Goal Song with the cannon is just so irritating.
Another thing to take into account is that Columbus hasn’t been able to draft well since Director of Amateur Scouting Paul Castron joined the Devils for the 2016 NHL Draft. The players that Castron was responsible for over the years in Columbus will end up becoming scouted perfectly and notes possibly shared with Devils Pro-Scouts over the years.
With The Devils getting only faster, younger, and just plain better this offseason, this rivalry can be something to watch with more sandpaper on this team. A lot of long-time Blue Jackets fans are probably beginning to feel the team backslide in the quality of talent in their pipeline once they begin missing on key players. Columbus will very likely be missing Paul Castron’s DOA services in the long run.