The New Jersey Devils held their exit interviews and the biggest takeaway was the players disappointment in how their season ended.
The time for talking is over for the New Jersey Devils. There has to be action heading into next season.
Heading into the 2021-22 NHL season, the New Jersey Devils wanted to play meaningful games. That did not happen down the stretch. And for the fourth consecutive season, and ninth time in 10 years, the Devils are going to miss the playoffs. For a team that was a perennial contender, it has been a decade of disappointment.
The New Jersey Devils wanted to take the next step this season, however, they fell short of those expectations. And those statements were echoed by the players throughout Day One of exit interviews.
“We definitely fell short, we had high expectations for ourselves and everybody was not quite where we needed to be just yet. There’s steps we took steps in the right direction, you could see some of our players took key steps in the right direction,” Damon Severson said in his end-of-year availability. “It was a tough year, we’re not in the playoffs again, but there are pieces in place, and that we keep saying that we’re going to have to stop saying that pretty much now.”
Severson has been highly outspoken this year in regards to building a winning culture and being part of a winning team. He doubled down on his comments by stating the talking has to stop about having the pieces in place and more action needs to be taken so the Devils do not go again this time next year.
“Next year if we’re still here talking when other teams are still playing… it will be a huge disappointment for the organization,” Severson said.
And he is right. At some point, the Devils have to put a competitive club on the ice. The talk about next year has to go away. New Jersey made progress this year by having four players record 20 or more goals. However, it was not good enough to make the playoffs. And the Devils have not built on their last trip to the playoffs in 2018. In fact, they went backward. The Devils have a nice young core to build around, but eventually, it has to translate to being better on the ice. It is all well and good to have a great prospect pool, but eventually, there has to be results.
“Disappointment is still there for sure. We wanted to play some meaningful games at the end of the year and make this playoff but unfortunately, in reality, we did not achieve our goal but it’s frustrating for me and our team,” Nico Hischier said in his year-end availability. “But still have to try to remember some positive things out of this season.”
Hischier was one of four players (Jack Hughes, Yegor Sharangovich, and Jesper Bratt) to record 20 or more goals. But he knows the attitude has to change this offseason for the team to get better. Not only for himself but the rest of the team as well. If the results are going to be different every player has to use their disappointment as fuel for next season. And just like Severson, Hischier pointed to the fact the New Jersey Devils have to start winning despite being a young team.
-
Ep 100: Divisional Round Preview: Who Is Headed To Championship Sunday?
by Full Press Coverage on January 21, 2023 at 12:19 pm
Around Full Press Hockey
NHL: The New Jersey Devils Future Is Bright And Could Be Now
NHL: Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald Looking To Build Towards The Future
NHL: Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald Says “The Answers Are In The Room”, But Are They?
NFL: FPC 2022 NFL Mock Draft 4.0: Getting Defensive Rather Early
Wrestling: NXT Black and Gold Shine In Loss To NXT 2.0 in War Games Match
PODCAST: Full Press NHL Podcast Ep 25: Eugene Melnyk Passes Away; NHL Salary Cap Rises
Hischier was not the only core player to speak his frustrations about the disappointment of this season. Jack Hughes who missed the remainder of the regular season with an injury was not happy about how the Devils finished the season.
“It’s frustrating,” said Jack Hughes in his year-end availability. “We want to be better in the standings. We want to be playing important hockey. It’s really hard to win, so I don’t want to come out here and throw all these expectations around and stuff, but we’ve got to have a good summer. Everyone has got to keep getting better. And it’s important that guys have to step up and have a big summer, get better, get stronger. And then we have got to come in next year and be rejuvenated and excited to go.”
Hughes showed he can be a breakout star in the NHL. Despite his injuries, he was still third on the team in points with 56. Hughes set career highs in points goals (26) and assists (30). If Hughes was not injured as often as he was, he was on pace to break the 30-goal mark. One thing Jack talked about was staying healthier. And when Hughes is in the lineup the Devils are a better team.
For his age, Hughes is showing great leadership qualities and echoed what Hischier talked about and that is it is an important summer for the New Jersey Devils. If they want to break the cycle of missing the playoffs everyone has to buy into the system and the work ethic. And for a competitive player like Hughes, he is tired of losing and it is just his third year in the league.
“‘I’m not enjoying this [losing]. Like I said, it’s really hard to win this league. But I’d like for our team and myself to be playing important hockey here down the stretch,” Hughes said. “So I mean, it’s been frustrating but at the end of the day, the season’s over. You have just got to go back and regroup, and be extremely excited for next season.”
Even newcomers Ryan Graves and Tomas Tatar expressed their disappointment in not making the playoffs this season. Both players know the Devils have to be better if they want to live up to their own internal expectations next season.
The Devils broke the cycle once as stated earlier. That was 2018 when Hischier and Bratt were just rookies. Since then four straight playoff misses. In order to get to the playoffs, the Devils have to be a consistent team night in and night out. That is something the Devils must be better at. Especially this summer.
With this much disappointment in the locker room, expect the players to have a different attitude next season.
-
Ep 140: The 49ers/Cowboys Rivalry With Former San Francisco Tight End Brent Jonesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 9:02 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by former 49ers tight end and three time Super […]
-
Ep 139: Hall of Fame President Jim Porter Joins To Discuss His First 15 Monthsby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 9:55 pm
Hall of Fame President Jim Porter joins Clark and Ira for a fourth time to […]
-
Ep 137: Hall Of Fame Discussion w/ John Turneyby Full Press Coverage on December 30, 2022 at 5:33 pm
Football historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 136: Remembering The Longest Game Ever Played With Larry Littleby Full Press Coverage on December 24, 2022 at 1:09 am
On the 51-year anniversary of the longest game ever played (Chiefs vs. […]
-
Ep 135: Hall of Fame Semifinalist Jahri Evans Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on December 16, 2022 at 3:51 pm
Former Saints guard and 2023 HOF Semifinalist Jahri Evans joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 134: Remember AFL/NFL Star John Hadl with Nick Canepaby Full Press Coverage on December 8, 2022 at 2:39 pm
Former Hall of Fame voter, Nick Canepa, joins Clark and Ira to discuss the […]
-
Ep 133: Hall Of Fame Semifinalist Henry Ellard Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on November 30, 2022 at 4:28 pm
Former Rams and Redskins wide receiver, Henry Ellard, joins Clark and Ira […]
-
Ep 132: Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 Semifinalists w/ Rick Gosselinby Full Press Coverage on November 22, 2022 at 6:15 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Pro Football Hall of Fame voter Rick Gosselin […]
-
Ep 131: 'Football Heaven' With PFHOF Senior Advisor Joe Horriganby Full Press Coverage on November 17, 2022 at 5:55 pm
Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Advisor, Joe Horrigan, joins Clark and […]
-
Ep 130: Remembering John McVay With Hall of Famer Eddie DeBartolo Jr.by Full Press Coverage on November 13, 2022 at 1:42 am
Clark and Ira are joined by Hall of Fame owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. to […]
-
Ep 271: NFL Championship Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 1:58 pm
-
Ep 270: NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 1:31 am
-
Ep 269: NFL Playoff Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 4:13 am
-
Ep 268: Week 16 Fantasy Rankingsby Full Press Coverage on December 21, 2022 at 9:45 pm
-
(Season 3.1) Commanders Roundtable w/ Deuce, DH, and DTby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 3:56 am
George Carmi hosts Deuce, DH, and DT as they discuss the latest topics of […]
-
Ep. 129: Fair Market Valueby Full Press Coverage on January 26, 2023 at 12:00 am
Biggs and Ryan Holmes discuss: Raiders Rebuild NFL Draft Worry Assistant […]
-
1/23 - Divisional Round Recap; Chiefs, Bengals, Eagles, and 49ers Advanceby Full Press Coverage on January 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Ian and John recap Divisional Round Weekend in the NFL. Learn more about […]
-
1/20 - Buccaneers Fire Byron Leftwich, NFL Divisional Round Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 20, 2023 at 10:19 am
Ian and John discuss the firing of Byron Leftwich and whether or not it […]
-
1/19 - Brady/Gronk Reunion, Aaron Rodgers, NFL News and Notesby Full Press Coverage on January 19, 2023 at 10:14 am
Ian and John discuss the potential of Brady and Ground teaming up in 2023, […]
-
1/17 - Cowboys Crush Bucs, Tom Brady, NFL Divisional Roundby Full Press Coverage on January 17, 2023 at 3:04 pm
Ian and John react to the Cowboys dominating victory over the Buccaneers […]
-
Talkamania Episode 230by Talkamania on September 6, 2022 at 11:43 pm
-
Talkamania Episode 229by Talkamania on August 5, 2022 at 3:37 am
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 210 "No Monè, No Monè, No Monè"by Boot 2 The Face on January 19, 2023 at 12:55 am
Rucker and EJ are back discussing Rucker going to Impacts Hard to Kill […]
-
Boot 2 The Face Episode 209 "Vince is Back"by Boot 2 The Face on January 11, 2023 at 2:34 am
Rucker and EJ are back talking NFL playoffs, Wrestle Kingdom and the […]
-
Ep. 84: NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Previewby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 9:00 am
-
Ep. 83: Belmont Head Coach Casey Alexander Interviewby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
The Scout & The Route: Bengals at Chiefsby Broken Controller Media on January 27, 2023 at 4:00 am
-
(Season 3.1) Commanders Roundtable w/ Deuce, DH, and DTby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 3:56 am
-
The Scout & The Route: 49ers at Eaglesby Broken Controller Media on January 27, 2023 at 1:00 am
-
Full Press MMA - Thursday, January 26thby Full Press Coverage on January 27, 2023 at 12:00 am
-
Pick & Rollout: Arizona State at Washingtonby Broken Controller Media on January 26, 2023 at 11:00 pm
-
Spurs at Clippersby Broken Controller Media on January 26, 2023 at 10:00 pm
-
Pick & Rollout: Arizona at Washington Stateby Broken Controller Media on January 26, 2023 at 9:15 pm
-
Mavs at Sunsby Broken Controller Media on January 26, 2023 at 9:00 pm
-
1/6 - Damar Hamlin Update, Bills/Bengals, AFC Playoffs, Week 18 Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 6, 2023 at 3:11 pm
-
Winter Classic: Bruins Rally To Beat Penguins At Fenwayby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:09 am
-
1/3 - Bills/Bengals Postponed; Bruins Topple Penguins In Winter Classicby Full Press Coverage on January 4, 2023 at 2:05 am
-
1/2 - Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Week 17, Bills/Bengalsby Full Press Coverage on January 3, 2023 at 3:22 am
-
12/30 - New Year's Eve, Luka Doncic, NBA Talk, Week 17 Preview and Picksby Full Press Coverage on January 1, 2023 at 2:29 am
-
Aaron Rodgers, Packers Win Third Straight; Playoffs In Sightby Full Press Coverage on December 27, 2022 at 7:36 pm