Although the New Jersey Devils have been relatively quiet since their season ended on May 11 with a Game 5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, there is still some news to catch on Memorial Day weekend in the US. Dougie Hamilton has had off-season wrist surgery, the Devils will have a Stadium Series game at MetLife Stadium in February 2024, and more with us one month away from the NHL Draft.
Hamilton undergoes wrist surgery
Hamilton stated in his exit interview that he sprained his wrist “very badly” at the end of the first round against the New York Rangers. At the time, he said he was still discussing the matter with the organization and whether or not he needed surgery. As it turns out, Hamilton made a quick decision and chose to undergo surgery. Because he’s done the operation now, His agent confirmed (via James Nichols) He’ll be ready to start the 2023-24 season.
If you thought Hamilton struggled in the team’s series against the Hurricanes, there’s context now. He was far from 100 per cent but still trying to help the team advance another round. Hamilton is coming off a career season in which he scored 22 goals and 74 points in 82 games. Hopefully the surgery doesn’t slow him down to start 2023-24, and he can get off to a hot start like he did last season.
Playground Devils and Flyers series
It’s been nine years since the Devils last played in an outdoor game, and next February will mark the first time in a decade they’ve done so. per multiple reportsIn February 2024, the Devils will host the Philadelphia Flyers’ Stadium Game matchup at MetLife Stadium – home of the New York Jets and Giants – in February 2024. The Rangers and New York Islanders will face off in another tilt of the stadium series.
Many, though not all, fans were hoping for another outdoor game between the Devils and the Rangers, especially after their thrilling seven-game streak going into the first round of the 2023 playoffs. But with the Islanders also involved, the league had to think about the best matches. For TV, ticket sales, etc.
Related: New Jersey Devils 2023 Offseason Game Plan
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While the Pilots may be heading for a full rebuild in the coming weeks and months, there is a built-in history with the Devils. Remember the 2000 Eastern Conference Final when the Devils came back from a 3-1 series deficit to win seven games and advance to the Stanley Cup Final? Or how about the 2012 Eastern Conference Semifinals when New Jersey was a heavy underdog but won five games? The two teams may be on different paths at the moment, but there is still a major rivalry. Given the history between the Islanders and the Rangers, it makes sense to go with those two initiatives.
Fitzgerald Snubbed from the GM of the Year nomination
On Thursday, the league announced the three nominees for the Jim Gregory Award for Best General Manager for the 2022-23 season. The three finalists were Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney, Jim Neal, general manager of the Dallas Stars, and Jim Neil Zito of the Florida Panthers. All deserving nominees, but it was surprising to see Seattle Kraken general manager Ron Francis and especially Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald not among the three finalists.
Every Devils fan is familiar with the season they had in 2021-22. The team went 27-46-3 and finished with 63 points, leading them to draft Simon Nemec with the second overall pick in the 2022 draft. There was some patching with the Devils this season simply because the team wasn’t as bad as its record a year ago indicated. But Fitzgerald helped the team add 25 wins and 49 points to the standings with his moves last summer.
In desperate need of a goalkeeper, Fitzgerald Acquired Vitek Vanecek from the Washington Capitals in the 2022 draft. He would finish with 33 wins and a 0.911 save percentage last season. With the Pittsburgh Penguins needing to empty cap space, Fitzgerald hauled John Marino for Ty Smith and a 2023 lead in the third. Marino went on to be the Devils’ best defensive tackle this past season.
Even a lesser-known step like Brendan Smith’s signature It should not go unnoticed. Sure, he was the No. 5, 6, or 7 defenseman this season, but it’s one of those things you just can’t tell. His presence in the locker room seemed to make a difference for the young Devils team. And even though Ondrej Palát was plagued by injury his first year in New Jersey, Playoff Palát made an appearance in the first round series against the Rangers.
It’s understandable why Sweeney was a finalist; The Bruins had the best regular season in NHL history. And Neil has quietly done a great job building up the stars over the past couple of years. With all due respect to Zito, who is a solid GM, the Panthers would not have made the playoffs if it weren’t for the Penguins completely flopping the bag in the final week of the regular season. The Panthers have won 16 fewer games and had 30 fewer points than 2021-22 when they won the Presidents Trophy. It’s semantics at the end of the day, but perhaps Fitzgerald should have been his nominee.
MacKinnon & Brunette interview for other openings
When a team like the Devils succeeds, other organizations will start looking for them to fill their vacancies in front office or coaching positions. We do know that the Pittsburgh Penguins interviewed Devils assistant GMs Dan MacKinnon and Kate Madigan, as well as director of player development Meghan Duggan, for their GM positions.
McKinnon made it through to the second round of interviews, however Reported by Pierre Lebrun Earlier this week, McKinnon dropped out of the race to be Penguins GM. That should leave a well-organized front office intact for the Devils this season and into 2023-24.
In other news, The Hockey Writers’ Mark Sage reports that the Columbus Blue Jackets have spoken to Devils assistant Andrew Brunett about the vacant head coaching position:
Brunette joined the Devils after the Panthers decided not to renew his contract for the season. He’s likely in a mix of other vacancies, including the Anaheim Ducks and Calgary Flames. If the Devils lose him, they’ll have a chance to fill in for Lindy Ruff’s staff. But if not, they have no drain on what an already excellent coaching staff is.