Things are unraveling fast in New Jersey, and the Olympic break couldn’t come soon enough for the Devils. After dropping three straight, capped off by a lopsided loss to the Islanders on February 5, the Devils head into the pause not just searching for answers - but questioning the very foundation of their season.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go. A team with playoff aspirations now finds itself staring down the barrel of a worst-case scenario. But while the picture looks bleak, there’s still a path forward - though it might require some tough decisions and a willingness to hit reset.
Time to Tear It Down?
Let’s call it like it is: the current version of the Devils isn’t working. The roster, as constructed, is built on shaky ground.
Offensively, the team leans heavily on Jack Hughes. When he’s not lighting it up, the entire attack sputters.
That lack of offensive depth has been exposed time and again this season. Defensively, there are some solid individual players, but the unit as a whole lacks cohesion and consistency - reminiscent of the Sabres’ struggles not too long ago.
So what now? The Devils have to start thinking long-term.
That means taking a hard look at who they want to build around and who might need to be moved. Hughes and Nico Hischier are the obvious cornerstones.
Beyond that, the list gets murky.
There are ways to begin this process without blowing everything up overnight. Trading players like Cody Glass and Dawson Mercer could bring in valuable future assets while giving the front office flexibility.
But the real questions start when you get to someone like Jesper Bratt. He’s undeniably talented, but his skill set overlaps heavily with Hughes, and that redundancy might not make sense for a team trying to reshape its identity.
Just How Stuck Are They?
The bigger issue may not be the roster - it might be who's managing it. General manager Tom Fitzgerald has overseen some bold moves, but as things stand, there’s real doubt about whether he’s the right person to guide a retool or a full rebuild.
The trade deadline is coming fast, and it’s a crucial one for New Jersey. They need someone who can look beyond this season and make the kind of forward-thinking decisions that set a franchise up for long-term success.
Based on Fitzgerald’s track record, that’s a tough sell right now.
Coaching is another area that demands scrutiny. Sheldon Keefe was brought in to bring structure, especially on the defensive end.
But through the first half of the season, the Devils have looked anything but structured. The team’s defensive lapses have been glaring, and Keefe’s fiery demeanor hasn’t done much to steady the ship.
If the season continues to spiral, a coaching change feels almost inevitable - but again, that decision would fall to Fitzgerald, which circles back to the same trust issue.
A Silver Lining in a Lost Season
Here’s the upside: if the Devils continue to slide, they could be in line for a top-five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft - and this year’s class is loaded at the top. Names like Ivar Stenberg and Chase Reid could be franchise-altering talents. Whether it’s a dynamic forward or a cornerstone defenseman, the Devils could walk away from the draft with a player who changes their trajectory almost immediately.
We’ve seen it before. Just last year, the Islanders turned things around quickly after drafting Matthew Schaefer. The Devils are hoping to follow a similar script - but for that to happen, the front office needs to make the right moves now to set the table for a bounce-back.
Where Do the Devils Go From Here?
This isn’t just a rough patch. It’s a crossroads.
The Devils have talent, but the pieces don’t fit right now. They need to decide who they are, who they want to be, and who they trust to get them there.
That might mean a teardown. It might mean new leadership behind the bench and in the front office.
But it definitely means embracing the reality of where they are - and having the courage to chart a new course.
The Olympic break offers a moment to regroup. What the Devils do next will determine whether this season is simply a lost year - or the beginning of something better.