NHL drops the ball with Hudson River Rivalry in New Jersey Devils schedule

The New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers rivalry, often referred to as the Hudson River Rivalry, is one of the most intense rivalries in the National Hockey League. The two teams are bred to hate each other, and they often dunk on each other online and on the ice. There is true hate there between the rivals. 

Every time they face off, the Devils and Rangers often make headlines. Whether it’s a dirty hit that will have repercussions beyond the matchup, an all-out brawl involving all linemates, huge goals (often by Jack Hughes), or even the major matchup they had that went seven games in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Rangers and Devils deliver on their matchup.

When the NHL schedule releases every season, the first thing Devils fans look for is when they play the Rangers. The tickets are often most expensive for these games on the secondary market. One might think the league would take advantage of that and give as many Rangers-Devils games as possible.

Nope.

The schedule release showed the Devils playing the Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Carolina Hurricanes four times. The Hudson River Rivalry? Only three times. On top of that, but the Devils and Rangers don't face off until March 7th. Actually, all of the Devils' matchups with the Rangers are in March. Who made this schedule?

Devils-Rangers 2025-26 schedule
March 7, 2026, 3 p.m. at the Prudential Center
March 18, 2026, 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden
March 31, 2026, 7 p.m. at Madison Square Garden

This is a disaster class in mistaken scheduling. The Devils and Rangers will play for three games out of the entire season, and all of those games are in March? It's honestly insane how big a mistake this is.

Bleacher Report just named the Hudson River Rivalry one of the best rivalries in all of the NHL. The league had a chance to put the Rangers' biggest rivalry on the ice four times, and they decided to do it three times. It might seem small, but there are Devils fans who plan their travel around these games.

This rivalry is must-see TV, and it's very possible the national rights holders take all three of the games. On top of every gripe we have with this decision, the only game that isn't on a weeknight is at 3 pm on a Saturday afternoon, and it's the front half of a back to back.

We couldn't be more frustrated with how the NHL has treated this rivalry. Do better Gary.