New Jersey Devils: How 2022 Offseason Moves Are Working Out So Far

So far this year, this New Jersey Devils team has had the best start since the 2017-18 season. The 13-game winning streak and a good January helped with that. But the main credit goes to Tom Fitzgerald. While the last offseason may not have been his best, he still got solid pieces to this Devils’ core. A few of these players have worked out, while others have struggled constantly throughout the year. However, Fitzgerald’s team has been fun for the organization and the fanbase. Here’s how each player is doing so far.

Vitek Vanecek

Considering all the moves Fitzgerald made this offseason, the best move had to be acquiring Vitek Vanacek in free agency. Vanacek had already produced two stellar seasons in Washington with the Capitals. Now with the Devils, the idea was to have him and Mackenzie Blackwood be an excellent goalie tandem. However, it would be Vanacek that would be the better goaltender between the 2. In October and November, he played 15 games and had an 11-2-2 record with a .923 save percentage.

He was a big part of the 13-game win streak. He can step up in every game he plays, making any save to compete against high-pressure teams.

Maybe the Devils rely on him too much. The only problem Vanacek has isn’t even his fault. He’s not perfect, but he is relied too much on the team to bail them out almost every night he starts. Because of the lack of defense and sometimes the offense not even showing up, the team must hope that Vanacek does everything he can to keep them in games. That’s not only a lot of weight on Vanacek’s shoulders, but it’s also entirely unfair for Vanacek that he must do almost everything. However, his talent and approach shine through, giving the Devils an actual goaltender they can play in big games.