The New Jersey Devils started this season with sky-high expectations, a familiar story for a team that hasn't quite hit its stride since 2023. Unfortunately, this year marked the third consecutive season where those aspirations fell short.
Tuesday night presented a golden opportunity for the Devils to make a statement by sweeping their fierce rivals, the New York Rangers, in the Hudson River Rivalry. Instead, they suffered a crushing defeat, effectively sealing the fate of their challenging season. This loss wasn't just another setback; it was the definitive end of their playoff hopes.
Before Tuesday's game, the Devils clung to a threadbare playoff chance, fluctuating between 0.1% and 0.5%, according to Moneypuck. With this latest loss, that slim hope vanished completely, leaving the Devils off the playoff radar entirely.
Now that the playoff dream is officially over, it's time to reflect on what went wrong. The Devils struggled mightily, especially when trailing in the third period-a situation where they failed to secure a single comeback win. Even the Utica Comets, their AHL affiliate, managed to pull off a comeback victory, highlighting the main roster's struggles.
The season began with promise, as the Devils briefly topped the Metropolitan Division. But injuries and inaction led to a swift decline.
Jack Hughes' injury woes were a significant blow, compounded by Brett Pesce and Luke Hughes also missing time due to injuries. Luke Hughes' absence was particularly notable, given his contract holdout before securing a $9 million per season deal.
Evgenii Dadonov's injury in the season opener further depleted the roster.
Despite these setbacks, the front office remained passive. They didn't bolster the offense when scoring was an issue, nor did they shake things up by replacing head coach Sheldon Keefe. Meanwhile, teams like the Buffalo Sabres and Columbus Blue Jackets made bold moves, leading them toward playoff contention.
With no significant changes made, the Devils are now facing an early end to their season, underscored by the lackluster loss to the Rangers. It's a tough pill to swallow for a team that began with such promise.