Concern O’Meter: How Devils Feel About Themselves After NHL Trade Deadline

NEWARK—When the New Jersey Devils freed up $13 million to utilize at the NHL Trade Deadline, there was an assumption they’d take a big swing. When they didn’t, it was somewhat surprising. After addressing some depth needs, they’re 1-1-0 since Friday’s deadline passed. So, how do the Devils feel about themselves down the stretch of the 2024-25 season.

The Devils, who sit third in the Metropolitan Division, are still a good team. Jack Hughes won’t be back for the regular season or a playoff run. However, they can still make some noise on the backs of fellow stars Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Luke Hughes.

After collecting some useful depth players, first Brian Dumoulin, then Cody Glass, Daniel Sprong, and Dennis Cholowski on deadline day, the Devils still had nearly $10 million to spend. Word circulated through multiple reports that New Jersey was preparing to take a big swing on the market. When they didn’t, the fan base was surely disappointed.

Did the locker room feel the same way?

“I’m not sure, it’s a great question,” Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald said. “I think it’s always exciting when people are added to the room, but when people aren’t, I don’t think there’s a disappointment. I think it’s just reality in a belief of the guys in that room. I’ll give you the guys, but you’re gonna have to do this.”

The Devils GM explained the plan was to utilize the cap space. He was after one of the available big names. However, the player ended up elsewhere.

“I don’t want to say a knockout punch, but it was a split decision, and the player went to a different team,” Fitzgerald explained. “It was difficult. But you know what? That happens. You win some, you lose some. And I just felt that my goal from the get-go was to add to this group in the player that I went after hard was that player with or without Jack. We were still trying to add that, and unfortunately, we just came in second.”

Had Hughes not been hurt, perhaps Fitzgerald would have had less pause about burning an asset such as Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey in a trade to acquire more immediate help.

Whether that was the right message remains to be seen. Especially given the fact that the Devils still aim to make the postseason in an Eastern Conference that is undoubtedly up for grabs.

“For sure. That’s our goal, as I’ve noted from the start of the year,” Fitzgerald said when asked if he plans to get back into the playoffs. “The difference is we’re missing some players. Those players, you can’t fill those shoes, but we still have a good team. You look at our goaltending, you look at our defense, how we’ve defended, we’re one of the better teams in the league at defending. Given up the least amount of goals. So that’s where it’s going to start. You’re going to have to learn how to manufacture goals differently, you know? Win a 0-0 game.”

Fitzgerald cited the Devils’ recent play since the calendar turned to March. They’ve hung in tight with most playoff-bound teams, sans the Winnipeg Jets who routed them to a 5-1 loss.

Yet, that was before the majority of the depth acquisitions. The Devils did what they were supposed to do against inferior teams such as the Philadelphia Flyers and Utah Hockey Club. Yet, it was the way they played the Vegas Golden Knights in a 2-0 loss that made Fitzgerald feel like they can still compete in the postseason.

“I really liked the way we played. You look at the Vegas game the other night, 0-0, a special teams night. I think our group really understands that for us to continue to get points, we got to play a connected game. Defense first, play on top of the other team and then, you know, let’s just stay in the fight and try to manufacture goals as differently or often as you possibly can.”

Johnathan Kovacevic shares the same sentiment as Fitzgerald. From his perch, the 27-year-old blueliner sees a group that has the ability to overcome the obstacles laid before them.

“I still think we’ve got confidence,” Kovacevic explained. “Look at the Dallas game, it’s not the result we want, but we’re down 3-1 to one of the top teams in the league, and we find a way to rally back and stick together. We could feel that energy. I don’t know what it looked like from upstairs or from the T.V., but on the bench, I could feel that energy and feel us coming together and rallying. Unfortunately, we didn’t find that tonight, but that’s something that’s in us. We’ve got to bring it these last 18 or so games here.”

Kovacevic is going to be depended on a lot more in the last stretch of games. Jonas Siegenthaler won’t return in the regular season, and there’s an outside chance Dougie Hamilton doesn’t, either.

He’s playing with the newly acquired Dumoulin in what should be a reliable defensive pair, albeit, not as good of a pair as when Kovacevic was paired with Siegenther.

Still, everyone is going to have to step up. Dawson Mercer, now playing second line center, has already potted a goal in his new role.

“We believe in who we are and the type of team we are among the players. We just got more to show,” Mercer said.

Believe.

The adjective you’re likely going to hear for the rest of the season amid injuries and opportunity. To the fans and media, it’s a cliché. To the players and organization, it’s a feeling to hold onto while still holding position in the playoff picture.

The Devils want to prove they’re more than just Jack Hughes and a supporting cast.

They’ve been mediocre ever since returning from the holiday break, and their cushion in the standings has only thinned. Yet, now is the time to show they can survive without their superstar.

“I believe in them. We’re a good team,” Fitzgerald concluded at his post NHL Trade Deadline conference. “Of course, no Jack Hughes, but we’re not a one-man team. No Dougie Hamilton, but we’re not a one-man defense corps. We’re a good team, and I think our team realizes that when you can play a committed defensive game, you give yourself a chance to win every night.”

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