OT: NJ Devils 2025-2026 Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
- Start date
Driving home, listening to WFAN guy on radio said he was at a party for Frank the tank only a matter of time before it comes out. He was drunk screwing around at the party.
this isn’t true. That may have been said but it’s false.
Great to see Brown back. Really don't know Dadonov. Hamilton is sure to screw up the D. It has been playing well.
We need Hamilton for offense given the loss of Jack !
Team is going to be offensively challenged without Jack!
Team is going to be offensively challenged without Jack!
It's going to be defensively challenged with Hamilton. Cholowski[sp] & White have been playing well on D. Think the O will be fine, especially with Brown back.
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Markstrom is becoming a problem. Last night wasn't all on him, but it's another 5 goals given up. His raw stats are awful and the advanced stats are worse. He's unplayable right now:
- GAA: 3.83 (2nd worst in NHL)
- Save Pct: .864 (2nd worst in NHL)
- Save Pct on Unblocked Shots: .930 (Worst in NHL)
- Low Danger Save Pct: .915 (Worst in NHL)
- Goals Saved Above Expected/Game: -.575 (2nd worst in NHL)
Yes. I have said that Daws needs to play as well. Also Hamilton needs to sit. On 1st Tampa goal on a breakaway he was up in the O zone & unable to do anything but chase way behind the play. Utter liability. Don't know what the H coaches & management are doing here.
Rutgers College Series Night with the New Jersey Devils!
Everyone that purchases directly through this link will be eligible to pick up a Rutgers and Devils co-branded hat (see photos for last year's design). Everyone will also be invited down to the ice following the game to take one big group photo on the logo to show just how big Rutgers pride is!
Rutgers College Series Night with the New Jersey Devils!
12/3/25 @ 7:00 PM - Rutgers College Series
www.gofevo.com
League to act after Devils violated NHL rule
League to act after Devils violated NHL rule
The Devils heartfelt act during warmups on Monday was actually against NHL rules.
www.nj.com
Big game tonight against VGK as they look to avoid getting swept on this homestand. Not a lot to like right now. They've lost 10 of their last 18, pre-dating the Jack injury and there are glaring problems with this team. Bratt hasn't scored in what feels like a month. The bottom 6 has produced 5 goals in 125 combined games played - completely unacceptable yet again. Without Pesce and Kovacevic, the defense has been a mess. Hamilton and Hughes have looked awful. The aging goaltending core is suspect. And where is this GM? That's my biggest worry with this team. The last 2 years, Fitzgerald has sat back and let his team rot away before waking up and making a move when they're already 10 pts back in March. How many more years of this supposed "window" are we going to waste with these guys on friendly contracts?
Devils linked to future Hall of Famer in trade rumors, insider says
Devils linked to future Hall of Famer in trade rumors, insider says
The Devils may acquire a future Hall of Famer via a trade this season.
www.nj.com
Hard pass. Fitzgerald is insane if he does this.Devils linked to future Hall of Famer in trade rumors, insider says
Devils linked to future Hall of Famer in trade rumors, insider says
The Devils may acquire a future Hall of Famer via a trade this season.
Another night, another loss. That's now 9 in 14 games since losing Hughes. I ask again - where is this GM? He was out peacocking after extending Markstrom (what a joke that is btw). But nothing since. No comment on your star player's freak injury. No comment on your teams continued nosedive. Just BS leaks to the media about how he's "working the phones." With the moves he's made the last 2+ years, I'm not sure I want to see what he'll do. Though I expect 1 of 2 things: he'll either panic and overpay for someone like Stamkos now or he'll wait until this team is 12 points out in March to pry O'Reilly away. Fitzgerald does not get discussed enough league-wide for how badly he's screwed this thing up since 2022-23.
In goal, I don't know what you do. It was clear that Markstrom was on the downturn and yet this dummy extends him in-season for absolutely no reason. If that wasn't bad enough, Fitz gave him a huge no movement clause that kicks in next year, so they can't get out from under him if they wanted to. In another example of brilliant asset management, Daws is out of options and is waiver eligible. So you can't even call him up while you temporarily "IR" Markstrom to let him get his head right. Among the many, Markstrom's biggest indictment is his inability to find a long-term solution to the goaltending. Vanecek's numbers were better than Markstrom's when comparing both NJ tenures.
This group needs a real shakeup in the worst way, but I don't trust Fitzgerald whatsoever.
In goal, I don't know what you do. It was clear that Markstrom was on the downturn and yet this dummy extends him in-season for absolutely no reason. If that wasn't bad enough, Fitz gave him a huge no movement clause that kicks in next year, so they can't get out from under him if they wanted to. In another example of brilliant asset management, Daws is out of options and is waiver eligible. So you can't even call him up while you temporarily "IR" Markstrom to let him get his head right. Among the many, Markstrom's biggest indictment is his inability to find a long-term solution to the goaltending. Vanecek's numbers were better than Markstrom's when comparing both NJ tenures.
This group needs a real shakeup in the worst way, but I don't trust Fitzgerald whatsoever.
Lol good discussion here. They're all so bad, but in different ways. Here's how I'd measure them against each other in terms of who is worst. Granted, some subjectivity here, but...Markstrom flat out sucks
new poop emoji rating system for local GM’s
More poop = no good
Devils GM
Giants GM
Mets GM
W/L Record:
- Best: Stearns (172-152)
- Worst: Schoen (20-43-1)
- Best: Stearns (NLCS run in '24)
- Worst: Fitzgerald (1 playoff series win in 5+ seasons)
- Best: Stearns (NYM body of work incomplete to date)
- Worst: Fitzgerald/Schoen (Both horrid)
- Best: Stearns (NYM body of work incomplete)
- Worst: Schoen (Has anyone gotten better under his regime?)
- Best: Fitzgerald (Other than the goalies, no one of note has gone on to sucess anywhere else)
- Worst: Schoen (Barkley, Williams, McKinney, Love etc)
- Best: Fitzgerald (By default)
- Worst: Schoen (Complete circus)
- Best: Fitzgerald (By default, handled with kid gloves)
- Worst: Stearns (Media loves to crap on the Mets, whether right or wrong)
RU, totally agree with your post, though I don't understand the part about Daws.
Fitzgerald needs to go. The Markstrom signing was just absurd at best. You forgot the trading for Hamilton & his ridiculous contract & playing him.
A distinct liability. Maybe the worst defenseman in the entire NHL.
Given what's transpired and come out over the last 3 days, Fitzgerald has moved to the top of my list. Handing out no-movement and no-trade clauses to 75% of the roster (Dadanov needed a NMC???) has completely hamstrung their ability to do anything. Hamilton's NMC cost them Quinn Hughes. His ridiculous Palat contract is seemingly unmovable. They're going to have to work some magic just to fit Kovacevic's dumbass contract back in here next month.
Let's call it like it is. Shero drafted Hischier. Shero drafted Bratt. Shero drafted Hughes. Fitz traded for Meier, his last ballsy move (3 years ago). Coming out of '22-23 and off a 112 point season, he had a situation most NHL GMs would dream of. A core of stars locked up on friendly deals. The degree to which he has bungled this should be studied. Next season will be Hischier and Bratt's TENTH season here. How much longer are we (or they for that matter) supposed to wait here? Oh by the way, Hischier needs a contract next year.
The problem is that Daws is out of options, meaning he'd have to clear waivers in order to eventually return to Utica. It's likely another team would claim him.
Dev's played a great game, and yes Allen needs to be ridden. What the hell was Hamilton doing on the ice in OT & in the shootout?
Right, but if they call Daws up, they'd have to do something with Markstrom or Allen - both of whom have NMCs, meaning neither would accept an AHL assignment. Barring an injury or one of them waiving their no-trade clauses, I don't see how Daws is back up this year, unfortunately.
Would send Markstrom down, but didn't know he could refuse. Suspected he may not have had to go.
Yup and the ridiculously premature extension Fitz gave him complicates things that much more.
The extension was a beaut to be sure. You are right about Pesce settling things down. Incomprehensible to me that Hoffman continues to play period.