With last week’s Game 5 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, the 2022-2023 New Jersey Devils’ season officially comes to close. This is a season the team can hang its hat up on and hold their heads up high even without a Stanley Cup. Every indication is that the future is bright.
It’s going to be a busy offseason. Though, first, there still are some playoffs going on. Additionally, the NHL Awards still need to be handed out (with multiple Devils’ players are nominees) as well as the NHL Draft before the league opens free agency. Before all that, let’s take a look at some of the best, most interesting, and most important quotes to come out of the Devils’ exit interview day.
Haula Wants To Come Back
Haula has had an interesting season in New Jersey. His first half of the season seem to be dictated by the fact he couldn’t buy himself a goal. Even if it was an empty net, that puck would have found some way to make sure he stayed off the scoresheet as a goal scorer.
However, Haula emerged as an extremely important member of the team, and especially proved his worth during the playoffs. This is a team where the main contributors were young players getting their first taste of playoff action. Having a role player like Haula who had been there and done that was incredibly important. Let’s not forget that Haula was able to seemingly be inserted almost anywhere in the forward groups.
Haula immediately said he wants to come back to this group and how much faith he has in them. Haula even went as far as to call this group his “family” and telling his agent to get a deal done.
Wanting to come back is Haula’s seal of approval of what this team is doing. It’s also refreshing to see a player with that sense of urgency in wanting to get a contract done to stay, instead of playing with the usual “my agent will figure it out” song and dance routine.
Jesper Bratt Extension Looming
Jesper Bratt seemed very confident that he would get a new deal done soon, telling reporters “I’ll see you guys for the next couple of years.”
It’s a rather simple statement, but let’s read between the lines here. Hockey players are always diplomatic with the media and what they say, or don’t say, can speak volumes. The fact Bratt answered “I’ll be back” without hesitation is a very, very good sign.
Bratt and the Devils are a perfect comparison to the situation the Minnesota Wild had with Kevin Fiala last season in terms of a free agent with a similar skill set needing a new contract. Minnesota wanted Fiala back, and there were no signs suggesting that Fiala did not want to come back, but Minnesota lacked the resourced to bring Fiala back. That sort of made the writing on the wall imminent that Fiala would be traded.
The Devils want Bratt back, Bratt seemingly wants to come back, and the Degils have the resourced to bring Bratt back on a reasonable term. That’s where the comparison to Fiala differs.
Of course, negotiations – as has been the case already – won’t be easy. That’s literally what agents do. At the end of the day, agents will do what their players tell them to do. If Bratt wants to stay in Jersey, he’ll stay in Jersey. We’ll let the business side play out between the front office and his agent.
How About Some Unrestricted Free Agents?
Remember those “cryptic answers” we were just talking about? Goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood and defenseman Ryan Graves gave two of them. It started with the typical, “yes I want to be here, but.”
Blackwood says he has to go, “where the opportunity is.” With Vanecek under contract and the rise of Akira Schmid, it seems an opportunity in New Jersey is lacking. Blackwood seems to have no hard feelings about it.
Graves gave the time old answer, “it’s a business. Just like there is little opportunity for Blackwood in New Jersey, same can be said for Graves. Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec are sure to compete for roster spots, and at a cheaper price tag.
ESPN reported that the Devils already see Kevin Bahl as their in-house replacement for Graves if he leaves. Will the Devils try to retain Graves? Who knows, we shall see.
Damon Severson is also a free agent. His interview really didn’t give much away. Basically explaining he has no idea what the future holds.
Flick Of The Wrist
Dougie Hamilton revealed he hurt his wrist “pretty bad” during the team’s first round matchup against the New York Rangers. James Nichols of the Fourth Period mentioned that there is a visible bump on Hamilton’s right wrist and that surgery might be an option.
For anyone who is curious, nothing else was revealed about the injury that almost kept Jack Hughes out of Game 5. Head coach Lindy Ruff only specified it happened during Game 4 and almost prevented Hughes from finishing that game as well. He just said that he was “banged up” and that adrenaline fueled him wanting to play in the game. Whatever it was, it sounds like it’s no longer of any concern.
Follow Your Nose
The mysterious upper-body injury Timo Meier faced at the hands of Jacob Trouba was revealed to be, just as we all expected, a broken nose. Meier also revealed doctors held him back from returning sooner. That’s obviously understandable, but we like the determination for Meier anyway. There were no hard feelings between Touba and Meier in the handshake line either.
World Championships
A weird consolation prize for being knocked out of the playoffs earlier than they’d like is that some players can go on and represent their country at the World Championships also going on. Team Switzerland will be the team with the most New Jersey Devils’ representation.
Nico Hischier initially said he would “most likely” go while Jonas Siegenthaler said he would join the team during Saturday’s locker clean out/interview day. Hischier did eventually end up joining Siegenthaler for Team Sweden.
Timo Meier and Akira Schmid were heavily rumored to go, but not confirmed and Meier officially confirmed he was not participating. Outside of Team Canada, Tatar has been said to be “out” the World Championships, but prospect Simon Nemec has joined and already played with Team Slovakia.