Are we live? Are we live? The 2025-26 Devils are a complete disaster. Here are 10 things I learned about them this week:

1. This week felt like a year in Devils land. Where do we even start this newsletter?

With the 9-0 drubbing at the hands of the Islanders? The “big response” game, which wound up being a loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins? The fact that Sheldon Keefe is having to answer job security questions not even two years into his tenure? The Dougie Hamilton debacle? Or the loss to the Winnipeg Jets, who sit dead last in the entire NHL?!

Each of these topics could be the lede in an ordinary week.

2. The Devils were out-shot 8-1 in the first 13 minutes of the third period against the Jets on Sunday. They entered that period tied 3-3. That’s just pathetic.

3. Let’s get into the Dougie Hamilton situation (and Keefe’s strange comments about it before the Winnipeg game). As you probably know, Hamilton is sitting because he won’t waive his no-move clause. The team denies that, but it’s clear as day… Or so we thought.

Here’s what Keefe had to say about it on Sunday:

“Dougie is not going to play today, but my message to him yesterday when we spoke before practice is to stay ready,” said Keefe. “I don’t even know if Kovacevic is going to play back-to-back here, so we might make a change right back again tomorrow.”

4. What will Hamilton’s trade value even be at this point? If he does go to the Sharks — where it was rumored he blocked a trade to over the summer — watch New Jersey only get Barclay Goodrow plus a pick. The time to trade Hamilton was in the summer. General manager Tom Fitzgerald bungled this situation badly.

5. I’m going to recycle a point from last week’s newsletter. Here’s what a former player told me last week when I asked them about benching a player with a restrictive no-move clause.

“I don’t know that I’d sign with New Jersey if they did something like that,” the player said.

6. It’s also worth noting that Hamilton is a CAA client — the same agency that represents Jack, Luke and (you guessed it) Quinn Hughes. Not a great look that Fitzgerald is pissing them off.

7. Let’s now move onto Keefe, whose seat is likely blazing amid this nosedive. I had to ask the second-year coach the job security question after Thursday’s loss in Pittsburgh. I think his response was awesome.

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“It’s out of my hands,” Keefe said. “It’s not in my control. … I know what this team needs, how to get them going, but I’m also aware of the reality of the business and how it works… We’ve got work to do to become a real hockey team. There was a perception that we were a real hockey team before the work was put in.

“(The team) is going to keep working at it and I’m going to keep working at it,” Keefe added. “Part of coaching is you have to deal with crisis, challenges. These kinds of things excite me. I believe I can be part of the solution here and I’m going to keep doing my job to find the answers.”

8. For what it’s worth: I don’t think Keefe should be the scapegoat here. That’s way too easy of an out for Fitzgerald, who very clearly shouldn’t have the job anymore. Keefe’s two-way style hasn’t exactly meshed well with the Devils, but his teams were analytical darlings in Toronto. Plus, they’re getting the chances (they rank dead last in goals scored above expected, according to JFresh).

9. Jacob Markstrom has not played since the 9-0 loss to the Islanders. Jake Allen rarely gets back-to-back starts, yet he got one on Sunday. Is Markstrom pissed off that Keefe left him in for nine goals against?

10. Here’s your weekly reminder to check out our YouTube show “Speaking of the Devils.” This was our most successful week yet! Join in on the fun.

Question of the week (from via Greg Maltzman via email): “Hey Novo. Question for you …. it seems as if the organization doesn’t want to fire Fitz. At what point does Fitz have to raise his hand and resign? Meaning, is there prior precedent for a GM having pride and stepping down? His cap management is horrible, his hands are tied with these bad contracts and NMC/NTC, his signing Marky early backfired on him, his team made history losing 9-0… I’d love to hear your thoughts on this. Ultimately it’s the same outcome, but diff perspective.”

I don’t think Fitzgerald would do this. Typically when a GM steps down, it’s due to health, disagreements with ownership or career transitions.

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