Devils Fans are Disappointed, but They Need to Stop Pointing Fingers

In recent years the New Jersey Devils have been fighting hard and coming up short. Struggling in more ways than one, it sparks the question, who or what is to blame for the Devils decline? 

Fans are looking for answers and accountability, but the Devils issues cannot be pinned on a single person or moment. Although it may be tempting to point fingers, the Devil’s dark spell is a result of multiple corresponding problems, on and off the ice.  

It’s not the fans fault, however, when they begin to point the blame on a specific player or coach. Sports culture has made fans believe that one little change can fix everything, so when they see their favorite NHL team announce they will be firing the general manager on Instagram, suddenly everyone believes that a single change will generate a winning team. 

Management may not be fully at fault for the Devils inconsistent performance, but they are definitely a factor in the equation. They are responsible for creating the roster and building a strong cohesive team. If they are unable to create that foundation for the players, how are the players expected to excel on the ice, and execute a high performance game?  

On April 6, 2026 the New Jersey Devils fired general manager Tom Fitzgeald, after serving the team for six years. The Devils are looking to move in a new direction after another unsuccessful season is about to come to a close, but unfortunately hiring a new general manager may only solve one third of the Devils internal issues. Other factors that have contributed to the Devils struggle over the past couple of years include inconsistent goaltending and player injuries. 

When it pertains to goaltending problems, it’s easy for fans to blame the goalie directly. The goalies main responsibility is to protect the goal, but just like the defenseman and forwards, the goalie is not meant to play in isolation. A goalie’s instability can be the result of numerous factors, including a lack of organization on the ice and poor defensive plays from their teammates. 

Management and goaltending errors are big contributors to the Devils rough patch, but it’s impossible to talk about this team’s struggles, without mentioning player injuries. The Devils have faced countless injuries from fourth line to star players since the 2023-2024 season. That’s not to say there weren’t player injuries before that season, but ever since 2023 the team has faced a significant amount of short and long term injuries which have only added to their struggles as a whole. 

Injuries are nothing a team can predict or fully prepare for, they only add on to the already existing list of problems the franchise must overcome. Losing star players like Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Brett Pesce is going to be detrimental to the team. Coaches are forced to make line changes and develop new strategies, while the players must adjust how they work with one another on the ice. 

The New Jersey Devils success doesn’t rely on individual performance. It relies on communication and balance between the players and management. Blaming a single person creates a simple solution for a complex issue. It all leads back to needing balance and coordination throughout the entire franchise. 

If another New Jersey Devil happens to cut their finger at a team dinner and miss eight weeks in a season, fans shouldn’t be blaming the teams losing streak on that one missing player. If the other players and management are relying so heavily on one star player to carry the weight of the entire team, then there are even bigger problems that need to be addressed.