Scenario 4: Change in coaching philosophy
Read into this as you will, but the Devils need a different direction when it comes to the coaching. The system isn't working. The Devils are as talented a team as any, but they are far out of the playoffs. There are a laundry list of reasons why the Devils are where they are. Injuries and goaltending are at the very top of the list. Rookie defensemen and a power play going into the ground are pretty close behind.
Yet, coaching needs to bring the Devils out of this. Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jonas Siegenthaler, Ondrej Palat, and the rest of the injured players outside of Hamilton have returned. The excuses are out the door, so the inability to perform at the highest level is on the system they play.
There will be many who point out the defensive system that has left goalies out to dry. It's all sticks and no hits. One could see why they tried this. It really fit the Devils talent if John Marino and Jonas Siegenthaler were the shut down guys they were last season. Unfortunately, they aren't and the system is failing because of it. The coaching staff made some adjustments during the All-Star Break, so hopefully that makes an impact.
The coaching staff overall just needs to take a long look in the mirror. On Sunday, the Devils mustered just three shots on net in the third period on national television in a game they desperately needed to win. That has to wake something up in this team. If it doesn't... well... everyone knows what that means.