Ranking Most Painful New Jersey Devils Moments Of Last Decade

3. Shootouts

Before the dark ages, when the Devils’ shootout lineup was Parise, Kovalchuk, and Elias, they had an all-time shootout record of 54-29. After Parise and Kovalchuk fled the Garden State, the shootout has been nothing but a guaranteed loss. Since the 2012-13 season, the Devils have gone a combined 25-59. Outside of the playoff berth in 2018, they have not had a winning shootout record in any season.

To make matters worse, during the 2013-14 season, the Devils fell five points short of making the playoffs. In that year, the Devils played in 13 shootouts and lost all thirteen. If they won shootouts, they were a wild card team. However, five games was a lot to ask for a team that only scored four goals on 44 shootout attempts.

It hasn’t gotten easier for the Devils either. Over the last two seasons, they have a 1-9 record in the shootout. Also, over those 10 games, they’ve converted just nine times on 37 attempts. This is a team with Jack Hughes on it. How are they this bad at the shootout?

The easiest way to solve the Devils’ shootout woes? Abolish the shootout. Simple as that. This is on the NHL more than it’s on the Devils.