One percent

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The New Jersey Devils set out to play meaningful hockey this season. That was the goal.

GM Tom Fitzgerald said it at locker room clean-out. He said it early in the off-season. Then again in a late-July interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

“Again, trying to utilize what we have and my goal still is to continue to put a team on the ice that can grow together and play meaningful games at the end of the season.”

Sure, making the playoffs would be great. But the hope was – at the very least – for games down the stretch to count as more than ‘experience’ for young players and prospects within the organization.

And that’s not just manager speak. Lindy Ruff emphasized the same goal – to play meaningful games – but two months ago.

Kyle Cannillo @KyleCannillo

#NJDevils  head coach Lindy Ruff: “A successful season for us would be playing meaningful games at the end of the year. We believe we can fight for a playoff spot.”

Unfortunately, the Devils are unlikely to be playing in games that count next spring. Very unlikely. In fact, New Jersey’s playoff chances sit at just 1%, according to Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic.

That’s right. We are in mid-December. New Jersey has completed 33% of its season. And, realistically speaking, it is all but lost.