sportsMar 1, 202620:28

Pyrrhic Victory Szn: New Jersey Devils Win the Battle but LOSE THE WAR In St Louis

Locked On Devils - Daily Podcast On The New Jersey Devils

About this episode

In this episode, Zach Berman breaks down the New Jersey Devils' recent win over the St. Louis Blues, a game which, despite the positive result, feels bittersweet for Devils fans. The team went into St. Louis and played arguably their best game of the month, winning 3-1 and snapping a notably poor stretch. Zach Berman points out that while it’s nice to see the Devils victorious, any wins at this stage only worsen their draft lottery odds, putting them further behind in the race for top prospects, a fact underscored by his tongue-in-cheek visit to Tankathon.

Throughout the episode, Zach Berman expresses frustration with the Devils' management, especially GM Tom Fitzgerald. He worries that even a single win against a weak team like the Blues could encourage Fitzgerald to make shortsighted, panicked moves before the trade deadline, perhaps in an effort to save his job. This concern is compounded by what Zach Berman sees as repeated front-office missteps—most notably, the mishandling of player contracts like Jonathan Kovacevic’s, and a general lack of long-term vision for the franchise.

On the ice, there were some bright spots despite the franchise turmoil. Zach Berman highlights strong performances from Luke Hughes, Brett Pesci, and Timo Meier, each showing flashes of the potential and skill that Devils fans have been eager to see. The team’s defensive play was strong, most forwards had solid games, and the power play conversion was a rare positive. However, these individual successes are offset by the bigger picture of a lost season and the dread of misguided moves at the trade deadline.

The episode wraps up with thoughts about the uncertain future as the trade deadline approaches. Zach Berman invites Devils fans to weigh in on potential targets like Robert Thomas and Jordan Kyrou, but ultimately worries that acquiring such players may give Fitzgerald enough leeway to keep his job, prolonging what Zach Berman views as sub-par leadership. He closes the episode with his signature frustration, reminding fans that despite the win, the organization’s problems run far deeper than one night’s scoreline.

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Locked On Devils - Daily Podcast On The New Jersey Devils — Pyrrhic Victory Szn: New Jersey Devils Win the Battle but LOSE THE WAR In St Louis. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

It's the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. We've been the trusted experts since 1960 because nobody knows tires better than we do, and with over 90 tire brands, we have an abundance of options in stock for your vehicle. Buy and drive today at discounttire.com. Let's get you taking care of. How can I help? I can't get Jurassic Park back online without... Oh, you just need Xfinity. Plug in your gateway and you're good. All set. Luckily, Xfinity has reliable self-healing Wi-Fi that keeps you safe from threats. Wow. You can even boost speeds to your most important devices. Get reliable Wi-Fi at one price for five years. Guaranteed. Xfinity. Imagine that. Watch Jurassic Park with Xfinity. Restrictions apply, select plans only. Well, the Devils went into St. Louis, the home of weirdly sliced bagels, and really bad pizza, and...

one... Yay! You're Lockdown Devils, your daily podcast on the New Jersey Devils, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. Which is Lockdown Devils, part of the Lockdown Podcast Network. Now, the number one sports podcast network in the world. And my name is Zach Perman. And the New Jersey Devils, one. A hockey game. I didn't know that was allowed to happen. But they went into St. Louis, went into the Enterprise Center on Kids Day in St. Louis. If you are taking your child to watch the 2026 New Jersey Devils play against the 2026 St. Louis Blues,

you should have the Department of Child Services called on you. That is child abuse, like straight up. But the Devils rebounded. And if you're listening, you're not seeing the quotation marks I am making with my fingers. They quote on quote one, the hockey game against another bad team. And oh, dear God, the Blues are really, really bad. Worse than the Devils, significantly worse than the Devils. The Devils win this game. Three to one complete the season sweep over St. Louis. Remember when St. Louis used to be like such a thorn in the side of this team? Well, that's not a case anymore for better for worse. And we're going to talk about who played well, who didn't play well. And all that jazz. It's a game that, of course, I hate that my first instinct is to go to tankethon.

The Devils are still in seventh as of now. Five days, 19 hours, 10 minutes, 16 seconds remaining. Before the trade deadline, I just see the lottery. The Blues get the first overall pick. So in the race for Gavin McKenna or Evar Stenberg or whoever you may fancy. The New Jersey Devils lost today. But if your Tom Fitzgerald and doesn't and you don't look at the standings. You'll see, well, I hope he sees the win lost results because they're. They're not great, but. This one was good enough tonight. And I think that is one of the most difficult parts of rooting for a bad team. Is that you can't even enjoy the rare occurrences where they win. Because.

A win, especially in. It means that a. The odds of them finishing last. Or pretty low to begin with because we'll Vancouver so bad and. So on and so forth. But it's not just that. It's that with such a dangerous general manager at the helm. You really have to worry. About a scenario. We're even one game against a bad team like St. Louis. Could be enough to sway Tom Fitzgerald into buying. That to me is utterly terrifying and it should terrify you to. And it's such an incompetent loose cannon at the helm who is.

Possibly trying to save his job. I don't know if he's trying to save his job because I don't know. If his job is even in jeopardy. The funniest thing I read today. Was it was an article by a daily face off featuring one of our. Devils beat writers. And the title of the article is. Are the devils leaning towards making a change general manager. And. My first instinct upon reading it was thinking to myself, well, I certainly hope they're leaning towards it. The article didn't answer that question. It just simply restated the obvious. Well, I. I sure would think given the situation there in that they would like to fire the general manager.

My sanity is in the hands of Harris Blitzer sports entertainment. And that is a terrifying proposition. And I hate not being able to enjoy a win because let's be real. Devils came in today. Luke Hughes's first game back. Outshot St. Louis by a significant margin. Jacob Markstrom played well. They actually outshot the blues 33 to 26. And overall played. Just about their best game of the month. In fact, it was the only game they won all month. I don't know. Am I a little worried that Jacob Markstrom is going to go on a run here. And try and screw the devils out of top draft.

Perhaps. I already voiced to a couple of friends. Why are there. I mean. The NHL is pretty significantly. Anti openly taken. But I definitely am a little bit surprised that perhaps. Igor Shusterkin is being allowed to. Finish out the season because. If you don't know that Igor guys pretty freaking good. And the Rangers today. They won a game that. They probably had no business winning. Three to two and a shootout against the Pittsburgh penguins. It does the New York Rangers. Absolutely no good to be winning this. Winning these games. As it does for the New Jersey devils. So under normal circumstances, I'd be overjoyed that.

I don't know what Markstrom the two years six million dollar goalie whose contract is yet contract extension is yet to have kicked in. I'd be really happy about him. Refinding his form and playing well. Except for where he tried to score a goalie goal. The puck gets knocked down immediately thrown into the net behind. And by Pablo Booch, David. That was funny. But alas that was the only goal he allowed today. Otherwise, he was rock solid and. I want to be happy. But. I'm a New Jersey devils fan and happiness isn't really allowed around these parts. What can I be happy about. Given the state of the organization right now. I'll tell you something. Luke Hughes tonight in his first game back looked very, very good. First game back from injury.

Luke looked like the guy that we want and hope and pray that he can be on a regular basis. And the player that I saw tonight, suit up for the New Jersey devils. Was Luke freaking his. Now it's just one game. It's against a bad team. So hold your horses. I'm not sitting here celebrating the return of Luke Hughes to. The glory of the family name here. But it's a start. And you take starts. What else can I be happy about. Brett Pesci looked really good. But first game he's looked really good since he came back from his injury to be completely honest. Pesci has been. Terrible. He's been absolutely terrible for the most part.

So it was nice to see Brett Pesci return to what we know he can do. And most importantly. Timo Meyer looked like the guy that devils traded for. That is the Timo Meyer I wanted to see. That is the Timo Meyer I look for every game. We haven't had nearly enough of them. But tonight. We got Timo freaking Meyer. He opens up the scoring 537 into the second period. And a place set up by Brett Pesci and Luke Hughes. Great job in the neutrals on by those two. They chipped it ahead to Timo and he rips it home past Jordan Bennington on the rush. One nothing NJD. Now. What else has been much maligned among devils fans recently? Power play. It's been terrible.

Well. Well, I got a gift for you. I will go ahead. Devils converge on a vintage duggy hamilton one time. In the dying seconds of the second period. Off a sciss from Jack Hughes and Jacob marks from who that was three more assists on the year that have getting to dodge. Makes it to nothing. I talked to you about the bouch David's goal. Anything else really notable with this one? You know, it's their first win all month counts for something Most of the foreheads had good nights are looking at hockey stack cards right now jack looked great Mercer look great Niko brown Brat Gritschuk all had solid games Dylan and Nemitz were very good All six defense been worth

quite good and Now the devils Originally We're potentially going 11 and seven with Luke coming back and That didn't happen Jonathan Kovacsevich whether he was sick or what not Goes down in tonight's game as a healthy scratch and Oh boy The guy who is making four million dollars for the next four years Our next three years four years including this one with plentiful no movement No trade clauses in his contract One Less than a year into his deal is a healthy scratch Tumpet Sheryl's the worst general manager in the national hockey like oh my god How on earth do you let that happen?

That contract And I don't I don't think this is an overreaction because a lot of people felt this way You just knew the moment that it was announced it was an uh-oh Why are we doing this kind of situation? Remember he came in second for Dylan Cousins his works not mine from mine too and His first response was oh dear god I Have to try and get something done to salvage this deadline because I was I Remember he was a Big game hunting The entire trade deadline Who knew who knows who he was going after maybe it was me go rantin and mate who knows and honestly who cares He didn't wind up with any of them and

Especially after The debacle with the Brian Dumel in situation There was a big fish that the devils were looking for Did not get So right before pencils down Tump Fitzgerald had to sneak something in Just uh and admittedly it was a good trade. It was a good process to acquire Jonathan cova Savage Who was going into next summer as a pending restrict unrestricted free agent instead It felt like Tom Fitzgerald had to have that victory lap just so he could prove to himself To the owners That hey I still know what I'm doing news flash Tommy boy. I know you don't

And because everything Tom Fitzgerald turns to crap naturally he immediately well he is in cova Savage immediately tears his AC hell Like almost instantaneously After the extension and as a complete shell of himself since then only Like not only is Fitzgerald a bad GM No Fitzgerald a bad GM you don't say he's also incredibly unlucky and Even I mean you got to make your own look Even if there was sound process Behind extending Jonathan cova Savage it was a terrible idea He was having a complete outlier season you don't extend You don't extend people

Having outlier seasons like that you just don't that's like It's like a prime rule of smart GMing and Tom Fitzgerald completely broke that rule And whether it's him long. I hope it's not him But whether it's him or somebody else Who has that job for the foreseeable future Jonathan cova Savage contract is just one more terrible situation That the next general manager god willing. There's an next general manager Have to get himself out of So it's a crappy situation and Yeah, that's a That's about it on the cova stuff

So with that The New Jersey devils End the month of February and abbreviated month In In which Their season was already on life support going in And now Perhaps the brainwaves are still active, but there's not really much left they end This absolute slahog of a month One Four and oh good for two measly points And And with five days left before the trade deadline All we have are questions Questions that whether we like it or not are going to be answered

And I pray we're happy about those answers On the other side of the other side of the deadline Of course the two big names For Saint Louis that are Being floated around his potential trade targets both by New Jersey and by the rest of the league Jordan Kairu and Robert Thomas I'm gonna be honest with you I wasn't really impressed by either of them. I thought I mean maybe it's the system Jim Montgomery's running You can If you're a blues fan you can maybe elaborate on why The blues will so unbelievable why these talented Saint Louis blues Look so unbelievably What's the right word pedestrian You

Is that is a pedestrian looking team With a lot more talent And I'm confused about it So Your blues fan Let me know what you think Your devils fan do you want Robert Thomas do you want Jordan Kairu? They're both big flashy names the If Tom Fitzgerald acquires either or one of the other It might be enough to save his job That's so scary to put into words Of course, this is a bonus episode don't have any reads We'll get back to A regularly scheduled programming In the I want to say in the morning because I got some more to get done tonight that you'll be seeing In the not too distant future but Till then

Let's go devils Yay Good win Yay This was a 20 minute one taker Yay See you guys in a bit fire Tom Fitzgerald too. I can't not say that Snoring gasping during sleep feeling fatigued wake up to Zeppbound tears appetite the first and only FDA approved prescription medicine for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea OSA and adults with obesity Zeppbound is an injectable prescription medicine That may help adults with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea OSA and obesity to improve their OSA Zeppbound should be used with a reduced calorie diet and increased physical activity Zeppbound is approved as a 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 or 15 milligram injection

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We've been the trusted experts since 1960 because nobody knows tires better than we do And with over 90 tire brands, we have an abundance of options in stock for your vehicle Buy and drive today at discounttire.com Let's get you taking care of Exfinity tech support? How can I help? I can't get Jurassic Park back online without... Oh you just need infinity plug in your gateway and you're good All set, luckily, Exfinity has reliable self-healing Wi-Fi that keeps you safe from threats Wow You can even boost speeds to your most important devices Get reliable Wi-Fi at one price for five years, guaranteed Exfinity, imagine that Watch Jurassic Park with Exfinity, restrictions apply, select plans only

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