The New Jersey Devils are 8-1-0 to start the season, currently in the midst of an eight-game heater. Superstar center Jack Hughes is coming off a two-goal performance against the Colorado Avalanche that was capped off by an overtime winner. This should be a strictly positive zone when it comes to narrative speaking around the Devils.
Yet, we still hear those in the national media talking about why this isn’t the true New Jersey Devils team. There are a few different narratives going around to disparage this start, including that Jack Hughes isn’t as good as advertised.
However, the most prevalent narrative we’re hearing doesn’t make any sense. The biggest storyline for the Devils' early season was how insane the slate was in October. On the schedule were matchups with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, and Tampa Bay Lightning. Seven of those teams made the playoffs (including the two teams in the Stanley Cup Final), and the other barely missed.
Yet, somehow, analysts are saying this schedule was “easy.”
It all stems from a tweet by a Colorado Avalanche account on Twitter. It was trying to say the Devils “hadn’t beaten anyone” during their then-seven-game winning streak. It’s one thing for an online personality with no real name or face to make unfounded accusations, but this seemed to be repeated by media members of legit publications.
The team's New Jersey has beaten on their seven game win streak have a combined record of 19-29-2, none above .500 currently. Last time Jersey faced a team as good as Colorado, it was a 6-3 mauling for Carolina. Sunday is going to hit Devils fans like a freight train. https://t.co/fGAxXFyNDH
— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) October 25, 2025
On Monday morning's 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman was going through the teams having a great start to the season. It was meant to be a positive conversation about the Devils, Utah Mammoth, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Seattle Kraken. However, the Devils conversation didn't make sense when looking at their schedule and who they have beaten.
"Something about the Devils too is I, I know people are saying, oh, they're, they're not facing anybody very good. I don't care about that. If you are going to be a good, if you're gonna eat a hearty meal, Kyle, there are going to be some empty calories in there. All you can do as a team is beat who is on your schedule. It's not the Devils' fault that the teams they have played don't have great records. All you can do is beat the teams that are assigned to you. And if you're gonna have a great record, you've gotta beat up on the lessers of the league. "Elliotte Friedman, 32 Thoughts Podcast
It’s true that some of the teams the Devils beat already this season are near the bottom of the standings, but the Eastern Conference is a conference of parity right now. If the Tampa Bay Lightning, who are second-to-last in the conference as of this writing, win one game, they are in a Wild Card spot. Same goes for the New York Rangers, who are last in the conference.
We also have to remember that we’re posting eight losses on the teams the Devils faced. This early in the season, that’s going to severely impact the team’s standings.
The Devils have had a hard schedule, and nothing should take away from their eight-game win streak. They haven’t played a lot of the teams that are actually bad, with only the San Jose Sharks as a bad team that came into the Prudential Center.
The Devils have a chance to sweep the home-and-home with the Colorado Avalanche. There will be no excuse when the Devils head to Denver, as both teams will be rested and ready to go. If the Devils win that one, too, maybe they’ll finally get some credit.