What is the State of the New Jersey Devils from top to bottom?
The New Jersey Devils are in need of a turnaround after a brutal 2023-24 season. Tom Fitzgerald has plenty to accomplish between now and opening night. What he chooses to do will determine his and the team's fate.
The New Jersey Devils find themselves in a precarious situation heading into the 2024-25 season. Questions loom large as far as what changes are in store for a team supposedly on the precipice of contending consistently. With the whole being more than the sum of its parts, according to Aristotle, let's assess the state of the Devils by taking a look at the parts that ultimately make up the whole.
1. Management
To say management took a step back last year is a bit of a delusive take. During the regular season, and as was the case with the coaching hire, management has held on to their overly patient tendencies, much to fans' chagrin. Yes, management should have moved quicker during the season to help plug in glaring holes within the team. It's very possible this team would not have needed a new coach if the made that move earlier.
Conjecture aside, management found themselves in need of a coach. They got one. Now, they need to find the most important thing for this team: an identity. Management has done its part to build this team from the ground up to become a respectable franchise. We have to give credit where credit is due. Last season, anything bad that could happen did happen. That's given them the benefit of the doubt. But now, it is time to buckle up and get ready for the ride.
It’s somewhat fair that Tom Fitzgerald is driving around in a luxurious Mercedes with very heated seats. Management knows they need to get to work. This offseason is a make-or-break for them. Another disaster of a season will likely mean change. They know they need a goalie that can win games by himself. They know they need to get it right with the head coach. Many believe they did. They know they cannot gamble on defensemen who may not be who we thought they were. They know they need to replace Michael McLeod. They know they need to get harder on the boards. They know they need an identity. They know improvement from last year is not just an option but a requirement. Management has some leeway, but they need to step up for sure. Their backs are against the wall this off-season. Either success is on the way or a whole new management team.
2. Coaching
After a patient search, GM Tom Fitzgerald finally pulled the trigger. Sheldon Keefe, the man behind the Toronto Maple Leafs bench for the last five seasons, will now be running things in the foreseeable future. It’s certainly an exciting time to be a Devils fan when thinking about this (potentially) new coaching staff. Where Keefe takes this Devils team is unknown. One thing is certain: where Tom Fitzgerald goes this off-season and who he brings in to help right this ship will determine how far Keefe goes. Not much else can be said. It’s time for Fitzgerald and management to work with a new face and a new voice. The sky’s the limit.
3. Personnel
Now, to those who play the game. Management can find the right players that align with their coach’s system. Coaches can make plans and run practices, all while implementing their system. In the end, however, the players must be the ones to execute those plans. They are the ones that must get it done. Two seasons ago, we saw what the group was capable of. It wasn't the same group this past season, with many names departing and new faces arriving. Injuries, poor goaltending and defense, and just plain ‘ole bad luck prevented this club from executing on a nightly basis. Management and coaching staff know all this. The players do, too.
Jesper Bratt led this team in points last season and looked like a player who, amazingly, has not hit his ceiling yet. Timo Meier admirably battled through injuries to lead the team in goals with two shy of 30. Jack Hughes sat just behind him with 74 points while playing through injury and missing 20 games on top of that. Dougie Hamilton was on pace for just around 70 points on the season before succumbing to injury just 20 games in.
Health (or a lack thereof) played a vital role in a down season. The reality is the defense was underwhelming, and the goaltending was abysmal. Youthfulness could not adequately replace the losses of Ryan Graves, Damon Severson, and Dougie Hamilton. The defense’s inability to break pucks out of the zone cost this team nightly. A returning Dougie Hamilton should help extinguish that problem. Trading for Jake Allen solidified a desperate goaltending room for a moment in time. However, for the New Jersey Devils to make the proper jump this season, a legitimate name is needed. Whether through free agency or trade, everyone in the building knows it’s a long time coming for a legitimate face in the goaltending room.
In the end, the same big names will be back. With luck, they’ll be on the ice consistently. Their production is not and will not be a question. We know what Hughes, Meier, Bratt, Hischier and Hamilton can do. It’s guaranteed they will do it again, but they need help. They needed a new voice, and they got one. They still need help, however. And help is on the way. Who it will be is not known. We’ll just have to wait and see. For now, the state of the New Jersey Devils can be described with one word. Anticipation.
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