A year ago, the New Jersey Devils were on a high after going undefeated in the preseason. Fresh off a quick playoff run from the season before in which the Devils knocked out their rivals, the New York Rangers, and made it to the second round. The Devils would end up losing to the Carolina Hurricanes, but the future looked bright. They entered the 2023-24 season with confidence, new veterans and future stars.
Instead, injuries, poor goaltending, lack of size and poor coaching sent the 2023-24 season on a tail spin and the organization back to the top of the draft order. It was a season of disappointment as other teams quickly adjusted to the Devils transition game and pushed the smaller team around.
Now, as the 2024-25 season begins in Prague, Czech Republic, the Devils are a much different team. The teams’ elite core is still together, healthy and ready to shake off the lessons learned in the poor season.
Old coach, Lindy Ruff, is across the red line coaching the Buffalo Sabres and a new bigger, more physical defense is poised to take the ice for New Jersey. A new coach, Sheldon Keefe, is ready to prove he can lead a team to the Cup after a frustrating playoff series with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Finally, the Devils have two NHL quality goaltenders in Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen.
New Jersey won only one game this preseason, game where the Utica Comets players took on the Rangers with Jeremy Brodeur leading the charge. However, the record should not concern the fans as the preseason is not about wins or losses, but learning the system, building chemistry and feeling out prospects. Understanding your depth and game are more important than a win.
So, what will the Devils be this season?
As seen last year, predictions are not that easy. It is not a matter of just how the Devils are, but also the teams around them. The Rangers are the reigning President Trophy winners and until they prove otherwise, they have the right to be predicted first in the Metropolitan.
Beyond the Rangers and the Devils, the rest of the Metropolitan Division is in a different place. The New York Islanders still have top goaltending, but, due to cap issues, were never able to fully address their weak scoring. The Carolina Hurricanes have a top pairing, and a top three, but are significantly weaker after that. They have always been a win by committee team but there are major depth issues on that team. The Philadelphia Flyers are still in the heart of their rebuild and the Pittsburgh Penguins, even with one of the best players in the game over the last 20 years, are older, and lack pieces to keep up. The Washington Capitals will be good enough to give Alexander Ovechkin a run at Wayne Gretzky’s Goal record but goaltending and depth is an issue for them as well. The Columbus Blue Jackets, still recovering from the tragic loss of Johnny Gaudreau, will be a team everyone can root for but lack the pieces needed to make a serious run.
Predictions for the Metropolitan Division:
- New York Rangers
- New Jersey Devils
- New York Islanders
- Carolina Hurricanes
- Washington Capitals
- Pittsburgh Penguins
- Philadelphia Flyers
- Columbus Blue Jackets.
