Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils: Hoping For 82-Game 2020-21 Season

By Vincent Parise

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 08: Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils and the rest of the New Jersey Devils celebrate the shutout against the Los Angeles Kings at Prudential Center on February 08, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey.The New Jersey Devils defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - FEBRUARY 08: Mirco Mueller #25 of the New Jersey Devils and the rest of the New Jersey Devils celebrate the shutout against the Los Angeles Kings at Prudential Center on February 08, 2020 in Newark, New Jersey.The New Jersey Devils defeated the Los Angeles Kings 3-0. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New Jersey Devils are hoping for an 82-game 2020-21 season.

The New Jersey Devils are not playing in the NHL’s “Return To Play” tournament that will be a slightly altered version of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The league’s top-24 teams in the standings are playing in a tournament that will be hosted in Toronto and Edmonton amidst the COVID-19 pandemic that has shut down sports for a while. The Devils are going to be watching from home but hopefully, they are back in action soon enough.

The National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players Association have extended the collective bargaining agreement. The COVID-19 issues had to be added to the discussions, but things seem to have gone better than they have over the last few times it needed to be done. Avoiding a lockout was the priority but that won’t happen now until at least 2025-26.

Talking about money, the Olympics, escrow, and all that is all fine and dandy, but some teams just want to get back to playing. With the Devils (and the other six non-playoff teams) watching from home, they are going to go a very long time without playing in an NHL game. That is going to be tough on them, but they have to get through it. Nobody asked for the pandemic, but it came so we have to react.

There have been rumors that despite inevitably starting late, they are still going to have an 82-game schedule. That would be amazing for the Devils as they have so many young players that need to develop. The playoffs might go a little later than we are used to if they start late and still play 82 games, but that likely means that 2021-22 can be completely normal in terms of start and end time. That would be perfect for this Devils team looking to turn the corner soon enough.

The New Jersey Devils had some great players miss the Cup. light. Hot

With young players like Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and MacKenzie Blackwood in the mix among others, playing lots of games is the best way in helping them become a great team. They have such high potential so hopefully, they are able to see this plan too. Honestly, even if they had to reduce it to 70 or 72 games, that would be okay too. As long as they are able to play a good amount of games, they will be alright.

Home/Editorials