The New Jersey Devils' 2023-24 campaign ended in disappointment on April 15. The team earned a record of 38-39-5 for 81 points, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division.
The New Jersey Devils' 2023-24 campaign ended in disappointment on April 15. The team earned a record of 38-39-5 for 81 points, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division. This was a stark difference from their record-setting 2022-23 season, which saw New Jersey reach Round 2 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"We don't want this to happen again,"general manager Tom Fitzgerald said during his end-of-season media availability. "We do have a lot of talent on this team, an extraordinary amount of talent. We are a fast team when we think and play quick. The maturity of this team has to continue to grow, and that's everyone."
When a season goes awry, like the Devils' in 2023-24, the blame cannot be solely placed on one individual.
Many fans argued that the season's collapse was caused by then-head coach Lindy Ruff until his firing on March 4. The team's record did not improve once Ruff departed, despite the upgraded goaltending that was acquired days later at the NHL Trade Deadline.
After hearing from the players, interim head coach Travis Green, and Fitzgerald, below are some of the most significant factors that led to the team holding their locker room clean-out day in the middle of April.
"We Weren't Connected This Year"
Fitzgerald did not mince words when he addressed the media on April 18.
"We weren't connected this year. We talked about it ad nauseam about being committed, connected and being competitive," he said. "We chased it all year. At the start of the year were were banking points, but we still weren't close to doing the right things on the ice."
The Devils were out of sync from the start of the season. Many of their early mistakes were ultimately masked by a red-hot power play that was at the top of the league. Once their special teams began to struggle, their weakness at five-on-five was exposed. Multiple times this season, fans witnessed the Devils score three or four goals only to lose in regulation 6-4 or 4-3.
"When you have a mentality of outscoring your mistakes, you're going to come up short," Fitzgerald said.
Losing Too Many Games in Regulation
The Devils played 10 games past regulation and won five of them, meaning they only collected a "loser point," which is awarded to NHL teams for losing in overtime and the shootout five times.
This season, those "loser points" impacted the Eastern Conference standings. The New York Islanders lost 16 games in overtime or a shootout, but those points were critical and helped them secure third place in the Metropolitan Division.
"We have to understand that in certain games, taking one point can be huge, especially going down the stretch when you're in the playoff race. Just look at the Islanders and how many points they have going into overtime. That's huge," Nico Hischier said. "I think understanding that and playing, if it is a tied game, not risking too much to get a late goal and lose the game. I think that's something we can definitely take (away), and that is something I learned this year as well."
For the team's core, which includes Hischier and Jesper Bratt, this is the first time in their respective NHL careers that they have found themselves in a dogfight for a postseason appearance. In seasons past, they were either one of the first teams eliminated or comfortably in playoff position.
The club learned a difficult but valuable lesson about what it takes when, in each game, they are fighting for their lives.
Injuries Were A Factor, But Not An Excuse
Believe it or not, the Devils had 293-man games lost to injury this season. Only five players appeared in all 82 games: Kevin Bahl, Bratt, Alexander Holtz, Luke Hughes, and Dawson Mercer.
"Obviously, we had some guys in and out, and injuries were a little bit part of our group the whole year," Hischier said. "It's definitely a fact, but it shouldn't change anything at the end of the day. As an organization, you have good players, and it's always whoever's in the lineup needs to do his best, guys stepping up for each other. It's not really an excuse, but it's definitely a fact that we're missing a few guys from the lineup this year."
Every organization deals with injuries, but to what extent is the x-factor that will only expose itself in April. It is the job of the team's front office to have the necessary depth players and pieces in place for when those eventual injuries occur.
The Devils have a talented core, and with the belief that certain positions will be addressed and improved this summer, there is no reason why the club should not be competitive in the 2024-25 season.
"Last year wasn't a fluke. We have good, young players that I believe in," Fitzgerald said. "The players are passionate about being in New Jersey. They know we play in front of a passionate fanbase that craves a winner. And they deserve that. That's not being overlooked. Our fanbase has been extremely patient. I know our players now realize that to take the next step there has to be different commitments, different values and beliefs in how to get there. It's my job and the next coach's responsibility to help them understand that."
Fitzgerald will be the center of attention for the next several months as he and his staff look to make the necessary moves to take their team to the next level.