New Jersey Devils Q&A - September 6, 2022

I answered your questions re: what a successful season would look like, Hughes' 100 point chances, keeping Severson as a rental, and more.

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NHL training camps open in a couple of weeks and the regular season will quickly follow.

With that in mind, I wanted to get one more Q&A post in before hockey returns in full swing.

Let’s get to it.

Q: What does a failure of a season look like for you, and what does a successful season look like for you?

The Devils finished 28th a season ago and won more games than only three teams. I would consider it a success if they can jump ~10 spots, whether they make the playoffs or not.

The circumstances are much different but take the Vegas Golden Knights, for example. They finished 17th last season, posted a +18 goal differential, had a strong 5v5 profile, and came up a few points short.

Although they didn’t make the dance, they were in the mix until the final few days of the season. If the Devils can have that kind of year, I’d consider it a success. They don’t have to make the playoffs – but they better be close.

A failure of a season would look a lot like what we’ve seen over the past few years. That, of course, means a slow start where one or two glaring problems arise and you essentially know playoffs are out of the question by November or December.

It’s not very fun to watch, or cover, a team where you’re not even close to halfway through the season and the games already feel like a meaningless investment of time.

Q: Are you comfortable with a Severson self rental season?

I think that’s the most likely scenario and I am on board with it for a few reasons.

Keeping Severson means the Devils have three top-4 right-handed defensemen who can a) skate; b) move the puck effectively in transition; c) contribute at both ends of the ice and; d) log 20+ minutes per night against top-6 competition.

With a lethal right defense backing up a dangerous group of forwards we know can score, that gives the Devils a very good chance of being, you know, good.

While possible, it seems unlikely the Devils would be able to swap Severson for a player as valuable as he is to the team. That’s a dealbreaker – or at least should be – for a Devils team that has sucked since The Stone Age and finally has a real opportunity to make some headway.

The Devils also have a very good prospect system; especially on defense. With Nemec no more than a year away from NHL duty, they’re very well equipped to deal with Severson’s departure next summer.

I’m all for extracting the most value possible for players, and thinking with a long-term view, but (in part) punting another season would be inexcusable.

The organization has sold the future forever and, of late, I think rightfully so. But at some point the future has to become the present.

Q: If Jack plays 80 games is he hitting 100 points?