Devils Daily: New Year, Same Devils?

The New Jersey Devils did not end 2023 the same way they started it. The Devils we knew last January were a high-flying, puck-pressuring machine that cruised to victories in dominant nightly efforts. The Devils we know this January are less confident in themselves, hand over opportunities to the opposition, and can’t keep the puck out of their own net.

Before the puck even dropped, New Jersey went through a major makeover despite their historic 2022-23 season. Eight regulars in the Devils’ lineup all departed whether it was trade or free agency. That forced a couple of players on the roster to increase their roles, as well as put a heavy emphasis on the play of rookies.

The fact of the matter is the personnel that left in the offseason made the Devils systematically weaker defensively. As a result, the average goaltending they received last season has been exposed. Without the presence of an elite defensive structure, the Devils are now leaking goals despite their ability to fill the net. Add a plethora of injuries to start the season, and even some currently, and 2023-24 has been a recipe for inconsistency each night.

Here’s to hoping the New Year can bring better fortune for New Jersey who once again find themselves out of playoff position, even if by only one point at the moment.

Let’s do that hockey.

New Jersey Devils

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils are holding their breath with Timo Meier. It seems like every time he gets himself in a groove, he ends up with another injury, such as the one he suffered on Saturday against the Bruins.

More NJHN: Devils prospect Lenni Hameenaho helped Finland end Sweden’s three-game shutout streak. The Finnish forward scored his first goal of the World Junior Championship Tournament en route to a 5-4 victory over Sweden.

The Athletic: If they could only choose one, what would be the Devils’ New Year’s Resolution for 2024?

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National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh Penguins

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray knows how to make an entrance and upset fans in the process, wearing a Sidney Crosby Penguins sweater while walking into Lincoln Financial Field, the neighboring stadium to the Flyers’ Wells Fargo Center.

Boston Bruins

Boston Hockey Now: When does push come to shove with Jake DeBrusk? Can he be moved at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline? Maybe this summer? Not at all? The Bruins are certainly at a crossroads with the 27-year-old forward.

San Jose Sharks

San Jose Hockey Now: Mario Ferraro exited Sunday night’s tilt with the Colorado Avalanche with an upper-body injury. A doctor not affiliated with the San Jose Sharks or Ferraro offered this opinion on the severity of the potential injury.

Philadelphia Flyers

Philly Hockey Now: Matvei Michkov was scoring in the KHL at a pace that even Evgeni Malkin couldn’t rival. Now, Michkov is on track to do all that and more. We’re talking about breaking records that rival Kirill Kaprizov.

Detroit Red Wings

Detroit Hockey Now: Amid the Spengler Cup, former Red Wing Tomas Jurco was sitting on the bench when Davos coach Josh Holden began by confronting Jurco verbally, and then physically?!

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