The New Jersey Devils are starting to look like they belong in the conversation with the East’s best.
Through 14 games, they’ve banked 18 points and sit second in the Metropolitan Division. They’ve also won seven of their last 10, and the numbers behind the record are just as encouraging: MoneyPuck has New Jersey at 58.57% in expected goals, which ranks second in the NHL. With star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck now in the fold, the Devils are beginning to look like a team that can make real noise in the Eastern Conference.
That was the question on Tuesday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, where Tyler Yaremchuk and Carter Hutton were joined by Steve Peters to discuss whether New Jersey has moved into the league’s elite tier in the East.
Yaremchuk framed the discussion around the usual suspects at the top of the conference, pointing to Carolina, Boston, Washington and Florida before asking whether the Devils should be included in that group.
Steve Peters didn’t hesitate.
“They do now. As long as they can stay healthy, I think that bodes well for this team.
It’s going to be a battle for second in the Metro. Let’s face it, Carolina’s almost won the division already.
They’re just exceptional. They picked up where they left off.
But you’re talking about Jersey, Washington, the Rangers are maybe starting to slide with their goaltending, the Islanders are right there. There is going to be a battle for second, and Pittsburgh’s still going to climb out of the cellar, I think, too.
There’s going to be a battle for second.”
Peters also pointed to a specific area where New Jersey still has to sharpen up if it wants to keep pace in a division that demands more than skill alone. He said the Devils need more physicality from their forwards, especially Anthony Mantha, who is averaging only two hits per game. He also mentioned Timo Meier as a player who can help in that area.
Right now, New Jersey sits 29th in the NHL in hits per 60 minutes, while both the Rangers and Islanders are in the top 10. Peters said that has to change as the season goes on, because winning in the Metro means being able to battle in the corners and play a heavier game when the schedule tightens up.
In Other News...
Devils Just Made Their Belief In This Core Impossible To Miss
Martin Brodeur made the Devils thinking pretty clear after the club landed Connor Hellebuyck, framing the move as a direct response to where this roster sits right now. With the core players in their prime, the organization viewed adding an established goaltender as a necessary step, not a luxury, and Brodeur pointed to Hellebuycks experience as a major part of why the deal made sense for New Jerseys push to stay in the mix.
Hellebuycks first night in a Devils sweater offered an immediate glimpse of what that belief looks like on the ice. He stopped 17 shots in a 5-1 win over the Dallas Stars, giving New Jersey exactly the kind of stabilizing presence it hoped to add while signaling that the front office is serious about advancing this competitive window rather than waiting for it to open on its own. [Read more 🡒]
Hellebuyck Finally Addressed The Trade Request Devils Fans Keep Talking About
Connor Hellebuycks move to New Jersey has already given Devils fans plenty to chew on, but the first real public word from the goalie came in a letter aimed back at Winnipeg. In it, he thanked Jets fans for the years of support, reflected on his time with the organization, and made clear that asking out was not a decision he took lightly.
Hellebuyck also said the request was tied to personal family circumstances he preferred to keep private, which only adds to the intrigue around a trade that had already sparked plenty of speculation. For Devils fans, the important part is the arrival of a proven goaltender, but the unfinished business around why the split happened will linger until there is more to the story. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Just Sent A Message Against One Of The NHLs Best
The Devils came away from Edmonton with a shootout win after overtime, and it felt like the kind of result that can travel well. Jack Hughes scored twice to keep New Jersey in the game, while Connor Brown chipped in a power-play goal in a matchup that asked plenty of both teams, especially with the Oilers trying to lean on their top-end talent.
What stood out most for New Jersey was how well it handled Connor McDavid during regulation, forcing Edmonton to look for answers elsewhere. Connor Hellebuyck then steadied things with key saves in the shootout after a difficult night, helping the Devils turn a tight, high-level test into a statement result against one of the NHLs best. [Read more 🡒]