2025 Trade Deadline

[StevenToddIves]

^^^this
Team is nowhere near competing, with or without Jack.

Without Hughes, the Devils certainly could have kept their playoff position and won a very winnable 1st round matchup against a very vulnerable Carolina squad. Realistically, this is still an achievable goal.

But I think before the season started, anyone reasonable would have said the Devils were not in the top echelon of teams in the NHL alongside Florida, Tampa, Toronto, Vegas, Edmonton, Colorado and Dallas. There was some optimism the team could have emerged as a contender during the season, as Winnipeg and Washington have done.

However, the Devils are better this season than last season, and look to be better next season than this season. They're still a good bet for the playoffs. And the Devils have the resources to get better next year -- the team needs are far from overwhelming: a top 6 winger, depth at center, an improvement in the bottom 6.

Though like all Devils fans I'm discouraged by Hughes missing the remainder of the season, I also see no reason whatsoever not to be optimistic about the future.

 

[NjDevsRR]

Team has repeatedly shown that they aren't great for the past two months and now lost their best goal scorer.

I need lots of happy kool aid to be convinced this team will do anything good.

I think they played well in every gm since the 4 nations besides Colorado

The lack of finish is killing them. If that turns around just by luck alone, they should be ok. If not then it will be messy, especially at home in April

 

[NJDevs26]

Marty is a winner at least and I think he hates seeing this team lose so I think he would at least try his hardest.

I mean what's the worst that can happen? We don't make the playoffs which is already what we have been doing for years as it is.

The worst that happens is a franchise legend gets tarnished…at least Fitz is just some rando arrogant jackass from Bah-ston that I won’t give a crap about after he’s gone

 

[guitarguyvic]

I'm surprised at how much I disliked that presser from Fitz.

I think this is a guy who clearly does not understand the strength of his best players and obsessed with one template for a winner and that's not what this roster is. Yeah, we needed more net front / cycle guys, we needed to get better defensively but this big boy hockey shit is a big misread.

I don’t think I’ve ever liked a single presser he’s given. Every one is cringe.

 

[Satans Hockey]

So much for not having dick heads on the team...

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...ting-former-indycar-driver-zach-claman-demelo

 

[Oneiro]

I think part of why Sprong has bounced around a bunch is that he's a prick.

 

[BurntToast]

Im annoyed with this board. You guys are whinny buttholes.

This is the core and it will be the core next year.

What do you want Fitz to do? Crap on everyone?!

The only tradable asset was Kovy. Maybe Mercer, but if he blooms somewhere else you guys, would also complain.

They had major injuries and they have played themselves into the playoffs. He added but not to the point where the Devils gave up anything significant. He showed faith in the guys that are here.

So much complaining.

 

[NjDevsRR]

So much for not having dick heads on the team...

https://bleacherreport.com/articles...ting-former-indycar-driver-zach-claman-demelo

I am a massive IndyCar fan, how the f*** did I not know about this

 

[Satans Hockey]

I am a massive IndyCar fan, how the f*** did I not know about this

You've been sleeping at the wheel like Fitz

 

[NjDevsRR]

You've been sleeping at the wheel like Fitz

 

[It Takes 2 To Tango]

Someone please change their name to It Takes Two To Tango. You'll get preferential treatment, I swear.

Ask and you shall receive

 

[billingtons ghost]

Why? $5m seems fair for a middle 6 forward?

Well then sign him this summer? If you think that's fair for him then ok...

 

[billingtons ghost]

The worst that happens is a franchise legend gets tarnished…at least Fitz is just some rando arrogant jackass from Bah-ston that I won’t give a crap about after he’s gone

Why not, worked for Johnny MacLean.

 

[NJDevs26]

Why not, worked for Johnny MacLean.

Do the owners beg Lou to come back/out of retirement for half a season and clean up Marty’s mess?

 

[Sgt Brylin]

Someone please change their name to It Takes Two To Tango. You'll get preferential treatment, I swear.

I got you.

 

[billingtons ghost]

Without Hughes, the Devils certainly could have kept their playoff position and won a very winnable 1st round matchup against a very vulnerable Carolina squad. Realistically, this is still an achievable goal.

But I think before the season started, anyone reasonable would have said the Devils were not in the top echelon of teams in the NHL alongside Florida, Tampa, Toronto, Vegas, Edmonton, Colorado and Dallas. There was some optimism the team could have emerged as a contender during the season, as Winnipeg and Washington have done.

However, the Devils are better this season than last season, and look to be better next season than this season. They're still a good bet for the playoffs. And the Devils have the resources to get better next year -- the team needs are far from overwhelming: a top 6 winger, depth at center, an improvement in the bottom 6.

Though like all Devils fans I'm discouraged by Hughes missing the remainder of the season, I also see no reason whatsoever not to be optimistic about the future.

I agree, I'm optimistic about this team as well. I'm definitely concerned that our stars 'got paid' and responded with lackluster years offensively, although I think the improvement defensively was terrific

I think there are some valid concerns:
- Jack's durability
- Meier's inability to finish
- Mercer's invisibility
- team schizophrenia and fragility. Although I think we've shown the ability to come back, and some mental tightness this year, I don't understand how dominant performances/win streaks seem to turn into river hockey and long losing streaks.
- bottom six really struggling, and no pipeline:. on paper you put faith in Lazar/Bastian/Tatar but they've given nothing. Noesen and Cotter have been pretty decent upgrades, but it's really scary that Foote and ???? Other prospects can't deny our lineup. Palat gives almost exactly what he's been throughout his career, but we vastly overrated him.
- we have no idea what to do when teams clog the middle and play physically. It shouldn't require a MacDermid on our roster to win games.

 

[JK3]

I got you.

Yes!!!

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

"Defense first team now"

Defense only team, you mean

 

[theoptimist]

Our GM is a clown. But he’s gone this summer thankfully.

 

[njdevils1982]

yep...

 

[guitarguyvic]

I agree, I'm optimistic about this team as well. I'm definitely concerned that our stars 'got paid' and responded with lackluster years offensively, although I think the improvement defensively was terrific

I think there are some valid concerns:
- Jack's durability
- Meier's inability to finish
- Mercer's invisibility
- team schizophrenia and fragility. Although I think we've shown the ability to come back, and some mental tightness this year, I don't understand how dominant performances/win streaks seem to turn into river hockey and long losing streaks.
- bottom six really struggling, and no pipeline:. on paper you put faith in Lazar/Bastian/Tatar but they've given nothing. Noesen and Cotter have been pretty decent upgrades, but it's really scary that Foote and ???? Other prospects can't deny our lineup. Palat gives almost exactly what he's been throughout his career, but we vastly overrated him.
- we have no idea what to do when teams clog the middle and play physically. It shouldn't require a MacDermid on our roster to win games.

"I'm optimistic about this team"..

...immediately followed up by more than a half a dozen valid concerns.

 

[devilsfan950003]

Any talent would have cost them their 2026 first round pick. Wait until the off-season. I'm pulling for them to make the playoffs but not giving them much hope of success.

 

[longislanddevil]

So who’s the center with term he targeted but came in second? I know he didn’t say but CM?

Our reporters should be ashamed of themselves. You don’t need to go to journalism school or be a rocket scientist to ask the obvious follow up question- who was the player you came in 2nd place on? Sure, Fitzgerald probably doesn’t answer it but you have to at least ask it. Those bush league idiots really irritated me; I wanted to know who it was!!

 

[Hockey Sports Fan]

"I'm optimistic about this team"..

...immediately followed up by more than a half a dozen valid concerns.

Honestly I think that's the most sensible way to be right now. For all the Devils' problems, they're still loaded with young talent and have managed to retain the best of their prospects despite spending multiple seasons as buyers. I've lost most of my faith that Fitz is the right guy to find the complimentary pieces, but at the same time, it's not like he's shipping out Silayev and Gritsyuk for short term help. The Devils are still in a very enviable spot.

 

[Bone Density]