By Ryan “The Goose” Gosiker
Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. Next to the word in the dictionary is a picture of 2023-2024 New Jersey Devils. A team that came into the season fresh off beating their rivals, the New York Rangers, in the first round back in May. They added a perennial goal-scoring threat in Tylor Toffoli. Jack Hughes and the young core had another year under their belt. Luke Hughes was likely getting the call to the NHL after seeing time in the postseason. Both goalies, Vitek Vanacek and Akira Schmid, were prepared to take leaps forward. Yet, somehow, someway, it has come crashing down this season. Jack Hughes has missed games. Captain Nico Hischier has missed. Dougie Hamilton has been out since November with a torn pec. Both goalies have been replaced with garbage versions of themselves. I do not recognize this team. It starts with the Head Coach, Lindy Ruff. He changes lines more than the average person changes their socks. There is 0 rhyme or reason to his decisions including who is in net each night. He recently played Nico Daws, a 23-year-old fresh off hip surgery, 6 consecutive games including 3 divisional matchups. The defense has been in flux all season with rookies and AHL players joining the lineup.
Every big moment seems too big for this team except for the Stadium Series game. This team is mathematically still alive, but they are hanging on by a thread. This team has seen regression from Jack Hughes, Dawson Mercer, John Marino, Jonas Siegenthaler, and the demotion of Alexander Holtz. Lindy Ruff has blamed everyone under the sun for the team’s struggles and has even verbally attacked well-respected reporters this season. GM Tom Fitzgerald is beloved by the fan base for putting this fun group of players together. He also should start to feel some heat for his lack of moves this season. He has kept the status quo. I hear all the arguments about not trading for certain players or maybe he is afraid to fire the coach in the middle of the season. However, you HAVE to fire someone. The goalie coach comes to mind. Whichever coach runs the Power Play units comes to mind. You cannot watch a team with Stanley Cup aspirations fall off a cliff and not attempt to save them. Again, you do not have to gut the entire roster for rentals or blockbuster trades, but you cannot keep everything together and just pray the team gets hot in time for the postseason. I was at Prudential Center 3 times in 4 days last week for games. This team is the definition of insanity. Check out my sports show: “Game Time with The Goose” every Saturday from 8:00 to 9:00 AM on WTBQ AM 1110 FM 93.5 and on WGHT Radio with co-host Zach Kruk, Sports Director of WTBQ and WGHT!
