Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News empties her notebook as the Devils completed the first half of the 2023-24 season.

The New Jersey Devils have completed the first half of the 2023-24 campaign. The club sits sixth in the Metropolitan Division, earning a record of 22-16-3 (47 points). Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News is emptying her notebook and sharing 41 thoughts, mostly chronologically, after the team's first 41 games. 

1. Another NHL season is upon us, which means my irrational fears of stepping on the Devils' logo in the locker room, getting struck by a puck, and getting smacked by a rogue ping-pong ball are back.

2. If Jesper Bratt's preseason performance indicates what fans can expect this season, then my goodness, they are in for a treat.

3. I don't think anyone had Jonas Siegenthaler collecting three points in the season opener on their bingo card.

4. Did the Devils score four power-play goals in a single game? In this economy? The Islanders won't be happy after this one.

5. Ondrej Palat wasted no time jumping to Nico Hischier's defense after he was hit by Buffalo Sabres' defenseman Connor Clifton. Even if Palat missed 17 minutes, it was well worth it for fans.

6. "Jack Hughes goes down, and he is hurt." Uh-oh.

7. Erik Haula (undisclosed), Tomas Nosek (lower body), Colin Miller (lower body), Nico Hischier (upper body), and Jack Hughes (shoulder). Tough 30 days for New Jersey.

8. With Hughes and Hischier out, Michael McLeod and Dawson Mercer just became two of the most important forwards on the roster.

9. There is something intriguing about Alexander Holtz playing alongside the team's role players. They have brought out the best in the young Swede.

10. For those who do not believe confidence makes a difference in a player's performance, I present Michael McLeod.

11. Thank goodness I saw John Marino walking in the parking garage and reduced my speed to two miles an hour. Haula and Palat walked toward their cars, and I did not see either until the last minute. The last thing I need is to run over the team's veteran players.

12. In a game that marked Jack Hughes' return, the Devils lost Nosek after taking a hit from Jacob Trouba. Poor Nosek has only appeared in six games this season. 

13. Another back-to-back set? Already? Who puts the NHL schedule together?

14. "And now Clifton and Brendan Smith are coming together, and Smith immediately takes Clifton down to the ice." Nov. 25, 2023: Smith receives a standing ovation from fans at Prudential Center.

15. Burnout is real, Kristy; take the day off.

16. After two months, the Devils hold an 11-9-1 record. I think my husband is right. The team's record will be worse than the season prior, and they will sneak into the playoffs in a wild card spot.

17. From an outside perspective, it is easy to criticize a player like Nate Bastian, who offensively has had a slow start to the season. Still, no one knows what a player is going through behind closed doors: "If I were not doing what I was doing, it would probably still hurt every day."

18. Simon Nemec is finally getting his opportunity. Let's see what the 19-year-old can do.

19. Well, that did not take long. Welcome to the NHL, Nemec.

20. Mackenzie Blackwood looked completely at peace when he returned to Prudential Center with the San Jose Sharks. After all the injuries he endured over the past few seasons, good for him.

21. New Jersey's 2-1 overtime win versus the Boston Bruins on Dec. 13 is the blueprint for how the team needs to play.

22. Expectations will always lead to disappointment.

23. If Luke Hughes' coast-to-coast goal versus the Columbus Blue Jackets indicates what he can offensively do, the Devils are in good shape.

24. The NHL is a result-oriented league, and unfortunately, Akira Schmid and Vitek Vanecek have not gotten the necessary results. Is it entirely on them? No, but something has to give.

25. Nemec has cushioned the blow of losing Dougie Hamilton. Not only has he been able to quarterback the second power-play unit, but he is also surprisingly strong in the defensive zone.

26. Without question, McLeod has been the team's unsung hero through the first half of the season. He has been the one player who has continually stepped up throughout all the injuries.

27. How the goaltending market has been described, it could make more sense for general manager Tom Fitzgerald to go after a stay-at-home defenseman.

28. Has Holtz finally found a role for himself on the team?

29. When I asked Curtis Lazar which teammate he would not want to babysit his children, he glanced around the locker room and landed on Luke Hughes because of his age. Understandable.

30. The mistakes that rookie defensemen are expected to make have been apparent.

31. This season can be described as the defense not doing any favors for their goaltenders and their goaltenders not being able to mask the team's defensive lapses.

32. With the Metropolitan Division being so tight, how much of a factor will injuries be regarding which teams make the playoffs? One bad stretch of hockey can be costly.

33. Burnout is real, Kristy; take the day off.

34. Fans must stop focusing on where a player lands concerning the first, second, third, or fourth line. Coaches will always search for balance throughout their lineup, and nothing is set in stone. Just because players start on the third line does not mean they will stay there.

35. This season further proves that Hischier is the heart and soul of the Devils.

36. Since Jan. 1: Timo Meier (mid body), Palat (lower body), Jack Hughes (upper body), Siegenthaler (foot), and Smith (leg). It is only Jan. 16.

37. New Jersey's depth players have recently stepped up and played impressive games versus the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

38. With Siegenthaler out long term and Smith's status unknown, the remaining players will need to step up in the defensive zone, including blocking more shots in front of their netminder.

39. Nico Daws has played well. The thing is, hockey is a team game, and when things aren't going well, sports fans have a tendency to look to one player as their savior. It is unfair to put that expectation on a 23-year-old goaltender coming off a major surgery.

40. Based on expectations, the first half of the season has been a colossal disappointment. The reality is the Devils have been mediocre since the start of the season.

41. All eyes will be on Fitzgerald until the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline.