On this episode of Locked On Devils, Zach Berman laments having to skip the College Football National Championship to watch the New Jersey Devils play the Calgary Flames, highlighting that both teams are struggling significantly this season. With New Jersey and Calgary sitting near the bottom of their respective conferences and offering little excitement or hope for a playoff run, Zach Berman points out their mediocre records and underwhelming performances, reflecting a general sense of disillusionment among fans.

The analysis takes a deep dive into recent trades involving the Flames, notably Rasmus Andersson’s move to the Vegas Golden Knights, and discusses how these deals may foreshadow future moves for the Devils, particularly the looming decisions regarding core players like Dougie Hamilton. Zach Berman also spotlights ex-Devils now playing for Calgary, confidently predicting that at least one will score against their former team—a sign of the current malaise and lack of defensive fortitude in New Jersey.

With the Devils on a rough stretch—an 8-14 record since a pivotal loss to Columbus—frustrations boil over as Zach Berman questions the effectiveness of the team’s longstanding core and ultimately advocates for blowing up the roster and starting fresh. He argues that continued attempts to salvage the current group are futile, suspecting that any panic trades by GM Tom Fitzgerald would only delay an inevitable rebuild, and calls for a decisive change in direction.

Looking forward, the one bright spot is the NHL debut of Lenni Hameenaho, the Devils’ 2023 second-round pick. Zach Berman expresses excitement for Hameenaho's potential to inject much-needed energy into the lineup, hoping he might become part of a future solution. However, this optimism is tempered by ongoing criticism of management and a demand for accountability, as he urges the team to secure wins on the road and calls for Fitzgerald’s firing if meaningful change isn’t achieved soon. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com

for information about our collection and use of personal data for

advertising.