The Devils should follow the Rangers' lead with both missing the playoffs

The New Jersey Devils are going to miss the playoffs. No matter how much they want to pretend they are still in this until the end, they are 11 points out of a playoff spot with 12 games to go. The Devils would need to make up one standings point every single game, and that’s just not happening, especially with four other teams in between them and the last playoff spot. 

Meanwhile, the New York Rangers were officially eliminated from the postseason this week. Both teams in the Hudson River Rivalry are in the conversation for the most disappointing team in the league. It’s probably the Toronto Maple Leafs, but the Devils and Rangers aren’t too far behind.

Because of their disappointing season, the Rangers' management made a decision that might surprise Devils fans. They decided against raising ticket prices. 

We hate to say it, but we have to give the Rangers credit here. This is a good move to make in a bad season. Consumer sentiment is very low in New York, but this is a team that plays in the heart of Manhattan. Businesses scoop these tickets up to impress clients and entertain visitors from out of town. They are in the heart of business expansion, and companies would pay rising prices, especially when everything is more expensive across industries.

However, sticking to their current season ticket prices, which is apparently a long-standing internal rule when they don’t make the playoffs, is a great brand win. Now, publications are writing positive articles about the Rangers when there’s not much nice to say about them on the ice.

The Devils have been playing better since the Olympic break, but the overall narrative of the season is negative. They have one thing going for them, and we’re worried that is something Devils ticket reps will hang their hat on. Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal.

That goal immediately made Hughes the biggest star in the league. He is on every show, especially right after winning gold with Team USA. Having a star like Hughes is a selling point, and we don’t see the Devils losing on that opportunity.

To be fair, the Devils' tickets are a fraction of the price of Rangers tickets, but raising prices after possibly the most disappointing year in a disappointing era, where it’s likely the owners clean house, is an aggressive move. Will it lead to fewer season tickets? It’s hard to say, but it will definitely lead to lower consumer sentiment, and it will price more actual fans out of their seats.