While many teams are gearing up for the playoffs, the Devils are dusting off their golf clubs for the fourth time in five years.
If a lot doesn't change this summer, they'll probably be in the same boat a year from now, too.
That's not exactly ideal for a team that recently made the playoffs for over a decade straight, and was looked at, along with the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Red Wings, as the class of professional sports.
The Spurs recently hit the 50-win plateau for the 16th consecutive season, and the Red Wings clinched the playoffs for a 24th straight year.
New Jersey, on the other hand, finished with one win in their final 10 games this season, and won just 29 times in the last 79 games after starting the season 3-0-0.
First thing is first, the Devils need to hire a coach. I'll touch on that more down the road, but I wouldn't give that job to Adam Oates, and I'm a little hesitant of giving it to Scott Stevens, too, though I'd like him to stay on staff.
If you look at the great teams, San Antonio and Detroit, for example, they have coaches who are arguably the best at their craft, and have been there for a long time. The Devils need to find that guy and grow some continuity rather than the revolving door we've seen over the last while.
The future on defense looks good and with Cory Schneider as well as Keith Kinkaid the Devils will have good goaltending, but drastic changes need to be made up front.
Steve Bernier is a very good depth player, but him being 2nd on the team in goals tells you all you need to know.
Realistically the Devils need two legitimate top-6 forwards to be competitive next season. That may not be doable, but if the Devils can acquire one and draft a future top-6 guy with the 6th overall pick, I'm sure most will be happy with this off-season.
What the team can't afford to do is a) miss with this pick (assuming they don't win the lottery) or; b) trade the pick for a forward in his late 20's/early 30's that is already past his prime.
If New Jersey has to trade a couple of their young defensemen to get help up front, go right ahead. Moving a 2nd round pick to help sweeten the pot in a deal? Sure. But that 6th overall pick should be used to draft a core piece and help build for the future.
The Devils don't have many (or any) blue chippers in the system, especially up front, and they're being gifted a chance to change that. They need to take advantage of that.
Lou Lamoriello has a lot of work ahead of him this summer, but with the right moves the Devils could dig their way out of this as early as next season.
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