This week, the NJ Devils’ train picked up some steam in the form of points, climbing to 7th of the Metro division with a record of 16-17-7. Though they may be in second to last place of the division, fans shouldn’t be too discouraged, as the Devs’ are only about 12 points behind being placed back on top.
Another 3-4 game hot streak could easily place the Devils back in the running for a playoff spot again. The Metropolitan division of the NHL is also notoriously known as being one of the most competitive in the league and the Devils have made some significant progress.
Taylor Hall was also voted back on the 2019 NHL All-Star team this week, with no surprise. Although he is currently still on injured reserve due to a nagging lower body injury, he is still very likely to lace up for the All Star event this year in San Jose. This is Taylor Hall’s 4th consecutive election as an NHL All Star. Regarding his injury status, he is still currently on IR day-to-day and is expected to return to the ice for the Devils soon.
In other news, John Hynes has also agreed to a multi-year contract extension with the Devils. Although there has been allot of debate this year about whether the Devils’ head coach would remain in NJ, due to the team’s disappointing start, many have still been optimistic about the coach’s plan for the team and the focus of which direction he’s looking to steer towards. “John’s leadership has been instrumental in building both culture and systems that are focused on the development of our players,” Devils general manager Ray Shero said in a statement on Thursday. “He has cultivated a group of veteran leaders, while helping our young players develop and gain experience. John is to be commended for the progress the team has made under his direction, and this commitment shows that we are confident in the role he will play in our future success.”
Devils fans shouldn’t throw in the towel yet as there is still plenty of hockey left to be played this year. Hopefully the team is starting to break from the slump by isolating some of the issues they have been facing and if they continue to gain consecutive points from upcoming games, they could easily back in a competitive position for a likely return playoff seat.
Featured Photo: Jean-Yves Ahern | USA TODAY Sports Photo Credit: Julio Cortez | Associated Press, Rich Chere | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
