Grading Each New Jersey Devils Players’ Playoff Performances

The New Jersey Devils wrapped up their first playoff run since 2018 with a 3-2 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, dropping the series 4-1. The team has a lot to be proud of, especially after coming back from down 2-0 in the series to defeat the rival New York Rangers in seven games. The ensuing series against Carolina didn’t go according to plan, though. As a result, some players finished their postseason playing much better or worse than their teammates.

Of course, the Devils came into the playoffs as a mostly young team with a few veteran guys sprinkled in to add experience and a calming presence. Ondrej Palat was brought in to be one of those guys, but he couldn’t do it alone. After rebounding from a down year that made him a potential cap casualty and trade candidate, the fall from grace was less than kind to Tomas Tatar.

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Tomas Tatar – Grade: F

Tatar played in all 12 games for New Jersey, featured on lines with both Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. He also had time on the second power-play unit. Unfortunately, the most you can say about Tatar’s playoff performance is exactly that. Tatar managed just one goal – his only point in the playoffs – on a shot that gave the Devils a 2-0 lead in Game 7 against New York. An important goal, yes, but John Marino did most of the heavy lifting and Tatar was there to finish the rest.

A non-descript postseason has seen Tatar descend from a candidate for a new contract with New Jersey to a player who might be searching for a new home and his third team in four years. An individual timely goal won’t be enough to salvage this performance from Tatar.