OT: NJ Devils 2025-2026 Thread
- Thread starter Tango Two
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What's the over/under for his next injury? Check the prediction markets.
coach and GM would be fired tonightThe ways in which Fitzgerald f*cked this whole thing up should be studied. Getting pushed around the ice in one playoff series against Carolina 3 years ago, broke his brain. He got away from what made that franchise record, 112-point juggernaut great. A skilled and speedy team that played an excellent transition game. He overcorrected and absolutely destroyed the bottom 6 with guys who, while they may hit, do literally nothing else.
His handing out of NMCs/NTCs has made them the laughingstock of the league and what will ultimately sink him (if ownership cares). 16 of these guys have NMCs. For guys like Hughes, Bratt, Hischier and Meier, I get giving those out to keep their AAVs down - something he was commended for upon signing all those guys to long deals. But I heard someone make this comparison - Fitz is like a sales rep that sits atop the leaderboard, but upon review of his numbers, you find out how many incentives and little side deals he had to cut in order to get there. (Dadanov needed a full NTC on a 1 year deal???)
2-3 weeks ago, I was fully on board with moving a pick to send one of these awful contracts out of there (Hamilton, Palat etc). Now, I don't want Fitzgerald touching a thing. He's going to have to do something just to fit Kovacevic under the cap - complete clownshow. Also, where is this guy? He was peacocking to the national media when they were in the midst of that 8-game win streak and when they sat atop the league just 5 weeks ago. Nothing since. How do you not address the media when Jack gets hurt? Or when you bungle the Quinn Hughes situation? Or when your team has won 6 of it's last 20 games in a year you entered with the 5th best Cup odds? He is a joke.
But he'll scapegoat Keefe, who I believe is a good coach - which fixes nothing. This rotten core needs to be broken up and guys like Palat and Hamilton need to be healthy scratched until it gets to the point they wave these NTCs.
His handing out of NMCs/NTCs has made them the laughingstock of the league and what will ultimately sink him (if ownership cares). 16 of these guys have NMCs. For guys like Hughes, Bratt, Hischier and Meier, I get giving those out to keep their AAVs down - something he was commended for upon signing all those guys to long deals. But I heard someone make this comparison - Fitz is like a sales rep that sits atop the leaderboard, but upon review of his numbers, you find out how many incentives and little side deals he had to cut in order to get there. (Dadanov needed a full NTC on a 1 year deal???)
2-3 weeks ago, I was fully on board with moving a pick to send one of these awful contracts out of there (Hamilton, Palat etc). Now, I don't want Fitzgerald touching a thing. He's going to have to do something just to fit Kovacevic under the cap - complete clownshow. Also, where is this guy? He was peacocking to the national media when they were in the midst of that 8-game win streak and when they sat atop the league just 5 weeks ago. Nothing since. How do you not address the media when Jack gets hurt? Or when you bungle the Quinn Hughes situation? Or when your team has won 6 of it's last 20 games in a year you entered with the 5th best Cup odds? He is a joke.
But he'll scapegoat Keefe, who I believe is a good coach - which fixes nothing. This rotten core needs to be broken up and guys like Palat and Hamilton need to be healthy scratched until it gets to the point they wave these NTCs.
Settling on Palat has been a disaster after missing on Johnny Gaudreau . Dougie contract had some good years but like most of these long FA deals the last few years trend down hill . One of them should have been moved this offseason. No one to blame but Fitz. I still can’t comprehend How this team won 9 in a row at beginning of the season and look like total garbage for the last month
Absolutely agree that Fitz fouled the whole thing up & that Hamilton & Palat need to be benched.
Everyone should be available except the Hughes Brothers and Nemec.
Team can’t score and is a disaster since Jack and Nemec got hurt.
Jack is back but not doing much.
Team can’t score and is a disaster since Jack and Nemec got hurt.
Jack is back but not doing much.
Devils’ Dougie Hamilton scratched; agent says player willing to be flexible on trade front
Hamilton has five goals and 10 points in 40 games this season.
www.dailyfaceoff.com
Things can get really ugly around this organization tonight. In Minnesota to take on Quinn Hughes and a strong Wild team, off 4 straight losses and 15 in their last 21 - on the back half of consecutive road games. If/when they lose tonight, I feel like that could be it for Keefe. He and his team just look dead. Wednesday night in Newark should be some scene.
Why Devils-Hurricanes could make or break NJ’s season
Why Devils-Hurricanes could make or break NJ’s season
Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes is a must-win for the New Jersey Devils.
www.nj.com
Oilers 4 straight home games vs teams on second half of back to back
A.I. scheduling program knows Bettman wants the oilers and mcdavid to do well ?
A.I. scheduling program knows Bettman wants the oilers and mcdavid to do well ?