After making the playoffs in the 2022-2023 season, the New Jersey Devils took a step back in 2023-2024 and missed the playoffs. New Jersey took a step back because of injuries and bad goaltending. The Devils also fired Lindy Ruff as head coach this offseason. New Jersey hired Sheldon Keefe to be the new head coach. Is it possible that they could bounce back in 2024-2025? It is going to depend on a lot of factors.
Should Be a Playoff Team in 2024-2025
Many teams who have high expectations the following season sometimes miss the playoffs. However, the New Jersey Devils should be different in 2024-2025. Sheldon Keefe is a young voice they need in that locker room. New Jersey has a lot of young talent on the roster. Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer are some of the key players on the Devils roster. They will have an elite offense, but it is going to come down to goaltending for this team.
The New Jersey Devils acquired goalie Jake Allen in a trade last season and he helped them between the pipes. New Jersey also made a trade with the Calgary Flames this offseason and acquired goalie Jakob Markstrom. Markstrom played in 48 games last season for the Flames. He had a 23-23-2 record with a .905 save percentage and a 2.78 GAA. Jake Allen played in 44 games last season. He had a 12-18-4 record with a .895 save percentage and a 3.44 GAA.
Jesper Bratt led the New Jersey Devils last season with 83 points last season in 82 games played. Jack Hughes only played in 62 games last season and scored 74 points. Had Hughes been healthy for all 82 games for the New Jersey Devils a season ago, he may have scored over 100 points and been in the Hart Trophy conversation. Jack Hughes will be in that conversation for them moving forward. Hischier scored 67 points last season and Timo Meier led the team with 28 goals scored.
The Metropolitan Division is going to be unpredictable next season. Last season, the New York Rangers, the New York Islanders, the Washington Capitals, and the Carolina Hurricanes all made the playoffs from the division. In 2024-2025, it only feels like the Rangers are the only sure bet to be back in the postseason. Carolina, the Islanders, and Washington don’t feel like locks to be in the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs. The New Jersey Devils have a higher upside than those three times. The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins also can’t be ignored in the division. As for the Columbus Blue Jackets, they will be rebuilding.
There is no doubt that the New Jersey Devils have the talent to make a run next season. They could be a team that everyone sleeps on. Sheldon Keefe is going to help this young team get better. Keefe did a very good job with the Toronto Maple Leafs in a very tough media market. If Jack Hughes is healthy and the goaltending is spot on, watch out for this hockey team next year.
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