The New Jersey Devils made the decision to postpone their Tuesday game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It was a smart decision as the team was dealing with a few non-COVID-19 illnesses, and the team lost six games in a row and it would almost definitely be seven if they played that game. The team is circling the drain right now, and they need to figure out how to right the ship.
The team came into the season with some expectations. They signed Dougie Hamilton to a massive contract to finally give themselves a top defenseman, and they signed Tomas Tatar to fill holes in the lineup. With Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Ty Smith, Mackenzie Blackwood, and Jesper Bratt all getting better with another year of experience, this team was supposed to take a step forward. They didn’t expect to make the playoffs, but they did expect to play meaningful games in March and April.
At this rate, they won’t be playing meaningful games in February. This team is in a hole, and nothing they are doing are helping them get out of it. They haven’t been able to get consistent scoring from anyone. The defense has taken a series of steps back, although Ryan Graves being out of the lineup hasn’t helped. There are too many issues to address in a week’s time, but there is plenty the coaching staff and the players can re-evaluate during this extended break.
What can the New Jersey Devils work on during the extended Christmas Break?
The team can’t practice until Sunday, anyway. They can’t fix things on the ice. The team can work on things off the ice. What are some of the aspects of this franchise that deserves a re-evaluation before the team returns after Christmas?