New Jersey Devils: 3 Reasons to be Optimistic About 2024-25 Season
Following a disappointing 2023-24 season, the New Jersey Devils will try to bounce back in 2024-25. Here are three things we're looking forward to next season.
The New Jersey Devils were the most disappointing team in the NHL in 2023-24. While there are teams finishing below them in the standings, none of them were expected to finish near the top of their division. They weren't labeled as potential contenders like the Devils. Heading into the season, it seemed like the Devils were poised to take another step forward. Instead, they’re missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
It hurts to be a Devils fan right now. Missing the playoffs is never fun, but with high expectations, it feels like an even worse blow than if they hadn’t been expected to have a good season. The Devils have a very talented roster that wasn’t able to put it all together for a variety of reasons, such as injuries, coaching decisions, goaltending, and more. Tom Fitzgerald should have a good idea by now of what changes need to be made to push this team back into the playoff picture next season.
Despite the disappointment, there are many to look forward to next season. Here are three reasons to be optimistic about the 2024-25 season.
1. Stars return to health
The Devils had a lot of injuries in the 2023-24 season. Despite putting up respectable numbers while on the ice, Jack Hughes was not himself for most of the season. He missed time in November after re-injuring his shoulder and then missed more time in January. Hughes continued playing to help his team make a playoff push, but he just looked off. A sign of him still being injured was playing wing and not returning to center.
Hughes fought through the injury all season long. With the Devils out of playoff contention, his season ended a little early upon the announcement that he would undergo shoulder surgery. The hope is that next season, after rehabbing from surgery, a healthy Hughes will be back to elite form.
Dougie Hamilton was missing from the Devils lineup for most of the season due to injury. He had surgery for a torn pectoral muscle at the end of November. The offensive defenseman’s absence has greatly affected this team. His experience is a huge plus for the Devils. He has a penchant for coming through in big moments.
Hamilton’s presence on the power play is a difference maker, so the Devils suffered without him in that role. Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec aren't at the level of Hamilton, at least not yet. With a healthy Hamilton back in the lineup next season, the blue line and the power play will get a boost.
2. New coach bump
There were too many issues to count in 2023-24, so the blame can’t squarely be placed on coaching, but coaching was definitely a factor. Lindy Ruff was not the coach to take the Devils to the next level. His system of accountability wasn't consistent, he refused to make necessary changes to the lineup, and the team rarely came out looking ready to play. By the time he was fired, it was too late.
Considering the Devils have not looked much better under Travis Green as interim head coach, it’s clear that he is not the answer, either. However, some players, such as Timo Meier, have looked much better under the guidance of a different coach. This is a good sign for what’s to come.
The Devils’ next head coach will be hired in the offseason. A new coach will spark the team. We can take a look at other teams that have gotten a bump from new head coaches recently. We don’t have to look too far… just across the Hudson River. Last offseason, after being knocked out of the playoffs by the Devils, the New York Rangers parted ways with Gerard Gallant and found the right coach in Peter Laviolette. Now, they have the best record in the NHL.
The Edmonton Oilers made a head coaching change very early in the 2023-24 season after starting off 3-9-1. Jay Woodcroft was fired, and Kris Knoblauch got the job. They were way down near the bottom of the NHL standings. With their new coach, the Oilers made a huge turnaround. They’re now second in the Pacific Division and have qualified for the playoffs. Looking forward to next season, the Devils will be armed with a new head coach. It will be their turn to see a spike in their play.
3. Strong goaltending
Again, there isn’t one element entirely to blame for the Devils’ failure to make the playoffs. However, goaltending was a huge part of why they didn’t. Goaltending should have been addressed last offseason, but it wasn’t. Hopefully, it will be addressed this offseason.
Vitek Vanecek had an abysmal season, Akira Schmid struggled, and Nico Daws was up and down with some moments of brilliance and uncertainty. By the time Tom Fitzgerald pulled off trades for Jake Allen and Kaapo Kahkonen, it was too late. The move for Kahkonen was about getting Vanecek out of town since he has a year remaining on his contract, while Kahkonen does not. Allen, on the other hand, has proven he can be the 1B, although Daws has shown potential for the role, and so has Schmid.
Regardless, the Devils still need a starting goalie. We’ve discussed the options in free agency and the trade market, both the more obvious and the less obvious ones. Jacob Markstrom of the Calgary Flames and Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators are two possible targets.
A strong goalie can steal games, as well as keep their team in the close games. The Devils didn’t get a lot of that this year, and it was costly, especially considering the defense went through a lot of growing pains. Stability between the pipes next season will bring the Devils a huge boost.
The disappointment of 2023-24 will sting for a while. Next season, the Devils have the opportunity to wash that away and turn the tide.
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