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