Devils Honor a Legend, But Current Team Offers a Harsh Reminder of the Present
The New Jersey Devils turned back the clock Tuesday night, honoring franchise icon John MacLean by inducting him into their Ring of Honor in a pregame ceremony at Prudential Center. But once the puck dropped, the celebration turned into a sobering flashback - and not the kind anyone in red and black wanted.
Instead of channeling the spirit of the gritty, resilient teams MacLean starred on in the late '80s and early '90s - or the Cup-winning machines of 1995 and 2003, where he served as both player and assistant coach - the Devils looked eerily similar to the 2010-11 squad MacLean briefly coached to a 9-22-2 start before being let go. That team stumbled out of the gate and never found its footing. Sound familiar?
Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Winnipeg Jets wasn’t just another L in the standings - it was a missed opportunity, a momentum killer, and a microcosm of a season that continues to frustrate. The Devils were flat for two periods, showed signs of life late, and ultimately left the ice without the points they desperately needed. The final score might suggest a tight game, but the eye test told a different story.
A Slow Start, Again
Before the crowd of 15,454 had even finished their pregame cheers for MacLean, the Jets were on the board. Mark Scheifele cashed in on a sloppy Devils line change, finishing off a three-on-one just 1:33 into the game. It was Winnipeg’s first shot of the night - and yet another early gut punch for a Devils team that’s made a habit of playing from behind.
There were flashes of hope. Finnish rookie Lenni Hameenaho, playing in just his fifth NHL game, notched his second career goal midway through the first. Credit Arseny Gritsyuk for creating the opportunity - his deflection of a poor pass by Alex Iafallo set Hameenaho loose at the blue line, and the 20-year-old made no mistake, slipping the puck through Connor Hellebuyck’s five-hole.
But the second period was all Jets. Gabriel Vilardi and Cole Koepke scored less than five minutes apart to give Winnipeg a 3-1 lead, and Nino Niederreiter added a fourth late in the frame after Dougie Hamilton’s pinch backfired, setting up a two-on-one.
At that point, the Devils had managed just 12 shots on goal - with less than a minute to go in the second. The building was quiet.
The playoff chase felt like it was slipping away.
Late Push, Not Enough
Jesper Bratt gave the Devils a spark with a power-play goal in the final seconds of the second period - a well-timed redirect of a Jack Hughes slap-pass that made it 4-2. Hughes, for his part, was electric all night, creating chances and driving play with his usual blend of speed and vision.
Bratt wasn’t done. With just under two minutes left in regulation and the goalie pulled for an extra attacker, he set up Nico Hischier for his 17th of the season, cutting the deficit to one.
It was Bratt’s 486th career point, moving him past Scott Gomez for fifth on the franchise’s all-time scoring list. But the Devils couldn’t find the equalizer.
Another comeback bid, another case of too little, too late.
Playoff Picture Slipping
The loss was the Devils’ second straight, and it wiped away the good vibes from last week’s sweep through Western Canada. Even more frustrating?
They’ve now lost twice in 17 days to a Jets team that sits 29th in the league standings. That’s the kind of thing that haunts you in April if you’re on the outside looking in.
With the Islanders and Flyers idle, the Devils missed a chance to gain ground in the Wild Card race. They’ll need help from Seattle in Tuesday’s late game just to stay within a point of Washington. And both the Islanders and Flyers still hold games in hand.
A Roster Shake-Up
There was one significant development off the ice Tuesday: Ondrej Palat is no longer a Devil. New Jersey shipped the veteran winger - and the remainder of his five-year, $30 million contract - to the Islanders in a trade that also included a third-round pick in 2026 and a 2027 sixth-rounder. In return, the Devils received 27-year-old forward Maxim Tsyplakov.
Tsyplakov had a promising rookie campaign, putting up 10 goals and 35 points in 77 games, but has struggled this season with just one goal and two points in 27 appearances. Still, the move clears cap space and gives the Devils some flexibility as they look to retool on the fly.
What’s Next
The Devils are back on home ice Thursday night against the Nashville Predators. Nashville, sitting at 24-23-5, is in a similar spot in the Western Conference playoff picture - four points out of the second Wild Card. They’re coming off a 3-2 overtime loss to Boston, a game in which they rallied from a 2-0 hole before falling short.
For New Jersey, it’s another must-win - and a chance to prove they’re more than just a team with a rich history. The Ring of Honor ceremony reminded everyone of what the Devils once were. Now it’s up to this group to decide what they’ll be.