While they’re 7-3-0 in their last 10, the New Jersey Devils’ playoff dreams are essentially non-existent; per Moneypuck, they have just a 1-in-625 chance to sneak in. With that being said, it’s imperative they continue to play well to gain some positive momentum heading into a pivotal offseason.
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In this edition of Devils News & Rumors, we discuss rumors regarding Matthew Knies, a potential demotion for general manager Tom Fitzgerald, and Jack Hughes’ dominance against the New York Rangers.
Matthew Knies: Future Devil!?
In many ways, 23-year-old Toronto Maple Leafs’ forward Matthew Knies fits the mold of a player who can benefit the Devils. The 6-foot-3, 232-pound left winger is on pace for a career-high 71 points.
According to insider Elliotte Friedman on a recent edition of Sportsnet’s ’32 Thoughts’, the Devils showed “serious interest” in Knies prior to the trade deadline. It’s clear the Devils need to add more firepower to their forward group if they want to be labeled as a serious contender.
But there are mixed opinions on how much of Knies’ success can be directly attributed to playing alongside Auston Matthews. Whether true or not, Jack Hughes isn’t too shabby of a player to remain alongside, huh? We’ll see if the Devils circle back on Knies in the offseason.
Potential Demotion for GM Tom Fitzgerald?
With the Devils’ continued underperformance and overall inaction, the heat has been put on general manager Tom Fitzgerald. Despite achieving a franchise record 52 wins in 2022-23, this season is the sixth with Fitzgerald as full-time general manager (GM), yet they’ve achieved just one single playoff series win.
ESPN insider Emily Kaplan speculated on a recent episode of “The Flying V Podcast” that the Devils could potentially hire a new GM, while still keeping Fitzgerald within the organization:
“I could see them maybe trying to bring in somebody above [Tom] Fitzgerald, below him, some more support,” said Kaplan. “Maybe they make a change there, but I know that Tom Fitzgerald’s plan is to continue to dangle some of these top defensemen that he has to get an impact forward.”
Jack Hughes’ Dominance in Hudson River Rivalry
Everyone knows that Jack Hughes rises when the moment is the biggest. Devils fans knew it already; the rest of the country learned during the Olympics.
But when the Devils play their rival New York Rangers, Hughes’ success transcends words. That’s how dominant he’s been:
In the last five games against the Rangers, Jack has 15 points (9G, 6A). Over a full season, that’s a ~148-goal, 246-point pace.
“I mean, that’s what good players do. They shine when the light is brightest,” said captain Nico Hischier.
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