Game Preview: Winnipeg Jets at New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils (27-23-2) will take on the Winnipeg Jets (20-24-7) on Tuesday at the Prudential Center.
Video Transcript
They're basically scoring two own goals in a game.
So, ugly times for the Devils, and Drew, you know, Let's put on your sort of team owner hat here, or superfan hat.
Like, what would you do with the Devils right now?
Is it a trade?
You know, would you look at doing what Buffalo did and replacing the GM, or, you know, Sheldon Keefe, who's, you know, was just hired there over just a year ago.
You know, does, does he kind of get a lot of the blame here?
Well, I think you need to start with, I've always liked their roster.
Like, on paper, I think they should be a playoff team.
I thought they would be a playoff team.
Now, what I think to me is a little bit concerning is leaving Jacob Markstrom in there for all nine goals.
He's supposed to be a guy who, like, I think it's always the coach's responsibilty to- Mean, obviously, the whole team was playing horrible, right?
But you should always have your goalie's back a little bit.
I think that Markstrom is one of the most well-liked, respected guys in the NHL.
So when times are going bad, I think one of the worst things you can do as a coach is lose the room, and I'm sure that there are a lot of guys in that locker room who love Jacob Markstrom.
Who are probably thinking, "What are you doing here?"
You know what I mean?
Like, what is the point of leaving him in the game?
Like, I just don't understand what that accomplished at all.
I think if anything, like you said, you start seeing guys being like, "What are we doing here?"
I mean, you could have pulled him at four different times.
Throughout the game just to kinda save him and save his confidence.
Right?
And he's a guy who's probably gonna be one of the most important guys on their team.
So, I mean, I think, like, the way it works, obviously, in all sports is you're not blow up the whole roster in one day.
The easiest thing to do is normally the coach, But like you said, he's a guy who kinda they just signed there.
So, they're in a tough spot.
And yeah, I mean, I don't know.
I never thought, I never thought they had a roster that was really, had a chance to win a Stanley Cup.
But I definitely thought they would be a playoff team.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah, good points.
Ryan, what, how about you?
Like, what do you think needs to be done there?
Well, yeah, I, I agree with Drew.
Like, I think it's too early for a coaching change, because you don't want to get into that cycle of having a new voice every other year.
You, you want some stability.
And yeah, I mean, the roster, they've done some, some really good things there.
I wonder if it's a matter of, like, the players need to have... Like a players-only meeting, and then maybe they have Maybe they have one scheduled, but, uh, I'm sure there's one scheduled now.
Yeah, exactly.
There's gonna be one now, or there's, There's definitely should be.
Mike Rupp made a very good point on social media.
Which was, okay, they lose nine-nothing, which is terrible.
But also, they had no penalties the entire game, which means that in the midst of being absolutely thrashed by a rival team, no one was like, "Hey, maybe we should, like, have some sort of pushback," even if it's, like, a fight, even if it's just, like, whacking, you know?
Like whacking a guy with your stick to show that you care.
Yeah.
Even if it's taking a roughing penalty to show you care, no one on the Devils did.
So it does feel like these players need to say to themselves, like, "Who are we?
And do we care enough about the logo on the front, that we actually... You know, even if you have to step out comfort zone.
Like, they don't necessarily have a lot of maulers on that team, and that's fine, but you figure somebody would say, like, "Enough is enough, boys."
