It is the middle of the offseason, and with training camps opening in about a month, hockey personalities like to make predictions. Now it is way too early for Stanley Cup and Divisional Predictions. However, it seems many personalities joined the New Jersey Devils train again this season after an appearance on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio’s Power Play segment.
Can the New Jersey Devils bounce back this season and be a playoff contender?
There, while going over the Eastern Conference, more specifically the Metro Division, it was pointed out ahead of NHL Network Personality Mike Rupp, as well as Jeff Marek and Keith Kavanaugh on The Sheet, that the Devils could, in fact, take third spot in the Metro Division behind the Carolina Hurricanes and Washington Capitals. A position that dates back to an earlier July appearance when going just the Devils themselves.
Now some of these personalities think they can finish higher than that, but the safe bet is the New Jersey Devils finishing third in the division and making the playoffs yet again.
TheDevilsNation.com Transcriptions
Host: “Okay, you’re not being a Devils guy here and giving the Devils too much credit, are you?”
Jim Biringer: “Well, I think they can actually finish third in this division, despite their questions in goal.”
New Jersey Devils Trade Simon Nemec and Maxim Tsyplakov to Calgary
Host: “No, no, I don’t want if they can. Are they going to?
Biringer: “Yeah”
Host: “I think you are showing your bias now.”
Biringer: “I don’t know about that.”
Host: “Oh I do. The Devils are gonna finish third. So you got the Islanders finishing fourth then.”
Biringer: “Yeah, just, I mean, they’re just going to get in. They’re just going to beat out those teams.”
Host: “Tell me why the Devils are going be third this season?”
How Do the New Jersey Devils Right the Ship For Next Season?
Biringer: “Just because the new general manager comes in, they reshape their lineup. You add Evan Rodrigues, you get tougher. Anthony Mantha, there. You have depth in your lineup. I think the addition of (Amadeus) Lombardi. You moved out some pieces. You ended that logjam on the back end. Everybody knows where they’re playing. There’s going to be some camaraderie in the locker room. They understand it’s not about minutes, points, who’s playing with who.
Sheldon Keefe got his staff now. There’s another year under that system. They were able to find something after the Olympic break that they can carry over, and they can be in the playoffs because this is the time they have to make the playoffs. They should have been a playoff team last year. The injuries again.
We’ve talked about this before. Jack Hughes has to stay healthy. I think he is going to stay healthy. They can find something with him and Mantha. I don’t think Mantha’s going to score 30 goals, but he’s going to contribute to this team.
Sunny Mehta is not done figuring out this roster, and I think New Jersey, again, even with the roulette in goal, they can make the playoffs and finish third.”
New Jersey Devils Need Jack Hughes to Stay Healthy
Host: “Yeah, I don’t trust the goaltending. You may be right. I just don’t believe in this one.”
Again, the Moneyball approach to the goaltending position with Jake Allen, Nico Daws, and David Rittich is odd. However, the Devils need to improve defensively as a team to protect these goaltenders. They also need to score goals. Mehta hopes new additions Anthony Mantha, Evan Rodrigues, Amadeus Lombardi, Jesper Boqvist, and others can contribute to the lineup and bring the necessary depth the team has been lacking.
Not to mention they need Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Dawson Mercer to have bounce-back seasons. Maybe Meier isn’t a 40-goal guy, but he needs to contribute at least 30 goals, not 20-25 goals. But everything offensively runs through Jack Hughes and that has to change. Not to mention, Nico Hischier will need to up his offensive game while remaining one of the best two-way forwards in the game.
New general manager Sunny Mehta understands how important it is to make the playoffs. There is a reason why Simon Nemec isn’t there anymore, besides wanting a change of scenery. Mehta knows the importance of veteran leadership on the backend.
But throughout the conversation on Sirius XM NHL Network Radio it was noted that there are more questions surrounding the other teams vying for the final spot in the Metro. Now things can change and there are injuries, not to mention, we have seen an offseason overhaul not work, but it is a pretty safe bet the Hurricanes and Capitals are going one-two in the division.
New Jersey Devils Defenseman Confirms Locker Room Divide
And with many agreeing that the Atlantic Division could have five teams again in the 2027 Stanley Cup Playoffs, that means six teams in the Metro are vying for one spot to make the playoffs. Why not the New Jersey Devils?
Can the Philadelphia Flyers have another great season under Dan Vladar? While you can never count out Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins, teams know what to expect from them now. Are the New York Rangers a threat as many think they are? That roster still needs work.
The Columbus Blue Jackets have massive holes to fill and questions surrounding players wanting to be there. And finally, do the New York Islanders have the offense to close out games? It can’t be just the Ilya Sorokin and Matthew Schaefer show again.
So the New Jersey Devils have a legitimate chance to be the third best team in the Metro next season. While the Devils may not have shown that consistency over the years, this team is out to prove they can be a contender for many years to come.
It’s now or never for this group, and that is a dangerous combination.
