New Jersey Devils Were Everything We Wanted And More
The New Jersey Devils had a wild off-season last year. They won the second overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft Lottery. Eventually, they selected defenseman Simon Nemec with the pick. A little later, they missed on Johnny Gaudreau in free agency, so they settled for the battle-tested veteran in Ondrej Palat. With the development of their core up to that point, they came into 2022-23 expecting to be a halfway decent team.
They started the season 0-2-0 and made it seem like it would be more of the losing we only got used to at this point. After a decade of terrible hockey outside of one year lifted up by Taylor Hall, it was the opposite of what fans were hoping for.
From there, however, things changed. They went down 2-0 against the Anaheim Ducks in game three of the season. They came all the way back and won. They then proceeded to have one of the best two-month stretches they’ve ever had. It included a 13-game winning streak.
The New Jersey Devils were everything we wanted them to be and more.
This year, the Devils recorded the best regular season in franchise history. They came in second place in the Metropolitan Division by one point with a record of 52-22-8 for 112 standings points. That’s not bad for being one of the three youngest teams in the league.
Jack Hughes led the way. He had his true breakout season as he had 99 points which is now the new franchise record. Nico Hischier also took a big step offensively as he reached the 80-point plateau. These two number-one picks are superstars, and there is no doubt about it now.
They made a big trade for the best trade target at the trade deadline in Timo Meier. He made a big impact as he scored 9 goals over the season’s final stretch to reach 40 for the first time in his career. Not only did he help them this year, but he also looks like someone that can help for a long time.
With two games left in the season, the Devils signed their top prospect Luke Hughes right as his season in Michigan came to an end. He was great right away. He made some really nice plays, including the overtime game-winning goal in game 82 to send them into the playoffs feeling good.
They were the higher seed against the New York Rangers in the first round as they entered the playoffs for the first time in five years. It is never easy to start off against your biggest rival, but that’s the way it goes sometimes.
It is even harder when a team starts the series 0-2 at home. Somehow, New Jersey found a way to come all the way back in the series and win it in seven games. Everyone did their part.
Things didn’t go their way, however, in the second round against a much more experienced Carolina Hurricanes team. They lost the series in five games.
In their final game on Thursday night, they had a chance to win, but the Hurricanes took it in overtime. Carolina is right where the Devils want to be, but it will take just a bit more time.
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The Devils were everything we wanted them to be this season and more. They saw their young stars break out, made a big trade, saw the top prospect be great right away, and won a playoff series against their biggest rival after an amazing regular season.
They don’t have to win 52 games every year. That doesn’t change the fact they are clearly going to be good for a long time. It hurts to know they are done right now, but the future is so bright.
All the players mentioned will only get better, and you don’t know who they will add this offseason. The prospects are developing well, and the stars in the lineup are dominating.
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It may take a few days for people to realize it, but things are going to be okay. One of the greatest eras in team history could be upon them. They proved a lot of people wrong this year. Now, the window is wide open. Hopefully, they will take advantage at least once.