New Jersey Devils: Recapping A Dreadful Season With Pucks And Pitchforks Crew

Now that the season is over, what should the team’s biggest priority be in the offseason?

Villano: Crush the draft pick. The goal is to stop picking so high up in the NHL Draft after this season. So, do all the research you can, and pick the player who’s going to help this become a true contender. Remember, when this year’s kid is ready, a lot of the best players on the Devils now will be entering their prime. The hope is to be like Cale Makar coming into the Colorado Avalanche (cough, cough take Simon Nemec).

Rice: If they somehow win the lottery again I would seriously consider trading that top pick for an established goalie, and if they’re lucky maybe include Zacha in the deal in a swap of forwards. I might even consider a deal like that if it’s a top-5 pick. The Bratt contract should be done relatively quickly. he’s earned whatever he’s asking for.

Parise: The biggest priority this off-season should be landing another very good prospect in the draft. Utica was outstanding this season and there are some good young players to thank for it. Adding more would be nice!

Garrison: The biggest priority of the offseason must be signing Jesper Bratt to an extension. After the last few seasons, he is way too important of a piece for another team to get him. I hope whoever agent Bratt has must get Fitzgerald to agree with him on a significant extension to keep him as a Devil for a long time.

Borges: The biggest priority for this team is getting new voices on the coaching staff. Mark Recchi needs to go, Alain Nassredine needs to go, and most importantly Lindy Ruff needs to go. Ruff has posted win% numbers that have not been seen since Ken Daneyko’s playing career began, which is not good. And it’s not just “the goalie”. Also, get Zacha far from this team as possible.

DeLuca: Sign Jesper Bratt. Now! Outside of Hughes, there was not a single player more consistent than Bratt. He belonged at the All-Star Game and was snubbed. He has shown he belongs with this franchise long time. He has the potential to be one of the greatest draft steals of the last 10 years.

Holiday: Coaching staff changes. It is pretty clear that this team will never succeed with the insane defensive lapses they keep making, and right now the finger should be pointed at Coach Alain Nasreddine. He has been here a long time, and while there was the excuse of the core not being good before they gave him Ryan Graves and Dougie Hamilton, it is just nuts that the same mistakes keep happening like leaving players open in the slot multiple times a game. This team on the powerplay is a disaster still as well. Playing Severson over Hamilton on PP one was absolutely nuts. Not putting your best shooter in Sharangovich on PP one, is absolutely nuts. Fans might not always be right but if you can’t see these are the smart choices on the bench I’m sorry but it is time to go.

Goldstein: Last summer, the Devils proved that they were not afraid to spend last year when they inked Dougie Hamilton to a long-term contract. With the space to do it again, New Jersey needs to make a big-time move and continue that trend. Whether that’s extending the contract of Jesper Bratt or Yegor Sharangovich or signing someone like Johnny Gaudreau, a major improvement has to be the number one priority. This free agency is pretty deep and I would love to see the front office, regardless of who’s there, be one of the more aggressive groups throughout the entire league.

Fleming: Sign some veterans who know how to win. This franchise has developed a culture content with losing and they need more guys in that locker room who won’t let that slide. Go out and get five Pat Maroons for all I care. Just build some type of culture in New Jersey.

Woo: The biggest priority this offseason is to bring in a big power forward that is a leader in the locker room. We saw what Bastian brought to the table with his size and tenacity upfront. Fitzgerald beefed up the defense and goaltending with size. He should do the same especially when Zacha never uses his size to his advantage.