Devils Spiral Continues as Frustration Boils Over in Newark
The New Jersey Devils came into this season with more than just hope-they came in with expectations. After a few years of steady progress and a young core that looked ready to take the next step, 2025-26 was supposed to be the year they turned potential into playoff consistency. Instead, it’s been a season defined by frustration, inconsistency, and a growing sense that things aren’t just off track-they’re unraveling.
Tuesday night’s shutout loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at Prudential Center wasn’t just another defeat. It was a tipping point.
A flat, lifeless performance on home ice left fans stunned and angry, and their frustration spilled into full voice. As the game wore on and the scoreboard tilted further out of reach, chants of “Fire Fitzy” rang through the arena-a clear message directed at general manager Tom Fitzgerald.
This wasn’t a one-off outburst. It was the culmination of weeks of mounting disappointment.
The Devils have now dropped four of their last five games and find themselves 10 points out of the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference. For a team that had legitimate postseason aspirations, that’s a brutal fall.
And make no mistake-this isn’t just about results. It’s about how they’re losing.
The Devils haven’t been able to put together a full 60-minute effort with any consistency. Injuries have played a role, sure, but the bigger issue is the breakdowns-defensive lapses, lackluster special teams, and a general sense that this team hasn’t found its identity.
On too many nights, they’ve looked like a group searching for answers rather than one imposing its will.
Back in mid-January, Fitzgerald faced the music. He stood in front of the media and took accountability, saying, “This is on me.
Where we’re at right now is on me. I’m one to take accountability on myself.
Accountability is a word that we use a lot with every part of our organization.”
Those were the right words. But since then, the on-ice product hasn’t changed.
The same issues persist, and the fan base is growing restless. There’s a sense that the clock is ticking-not just on the season, but on the current leadership.
Both Fitzgerald and head coach Sheldon Keefe are squarely in the spotlight now, and not in a good way. The calls for change are getting louder, and Tuesday night made that crystal clear.
The Devils have one more game-against the New York Islanders-before the Olympic break. That pause could serve as a much-needed mental reset for the players. But it’s also a window for management to take a hard look at where this team is headed and whether the current structure is capable of getting them there.
Because right now, the Devils aren’t just losing games-they’re losing belief. And if something doesn’t change soon, this season could go from disappointing to disastrous.