This is part of ourSpeaking of the Devils newsletter, which is sent to your inbox every Monday morning.

1. The Devils’ 4-1 loss to the Senators on Saturday felt like the final nail in the coffin of their disappointing 2025-26 season. Their playoff chances are all but toast (I’ll spend the next few points explaining just how hard it will be for them to make it).

2. For starters, Money Puck now gives the Devils an 8.9% chance to make the playoffs. That’s eighth worst in the NHL. This time last week it was 27%. Yikes…

3. Had they won Saturday, New Jersey would have been five points out of a playoff spot due to the Islanders’ collapse vs. the Predators. Alas, the 2025-26 Devils can’t get a timely win or a timely save. That’s been the unfortunate reality for them all season.

4. It took me just two clicks to clinch the No. 1 pick for the Devils on the TankAThon simulator. I wonder if Gavin McKenna says Pork Roll or Taylor Ham…

5. It goes without saying, but let’s say it anyway: Ownership should not let general manager Tom Fitzgerald try to salvage the season with a panic trade. I don’t think any player could come in and right the ship immediately. The Devils have to be thinking long term.

6. Credit where it’s due: Fitzgerald won a trade this week by shipping out Ondrej Palat’s albatross contract. Lest we forget, though: Fitzgerald is the one that handed him that in the first place. I hesitate to give him full credit for a problem that he created and should have gotten out of months ago.

7. Jack Hughes got hurt again. He left in the first period of Thursday’s 3-2 OT win over the Predators with a lower body injury. The good news: Sheldon Keefe told reporters Saturday that it’s not serious and he’ll be back soon. The bad news: he missed yet another game and the Devils lost.

8. Man, this has been a gloomy newsletter. Let’s spend the next few points talking about their few bright spots. We’ll start with Cody Glass, who has 10 points in his last 10 games and six goals in that stretch. Health has been a concern this season, but when he’s in, he’s been on fire.

9. I talked to someone this week who has seen the Devils’ new alternate jersey. They described it as “pretty.”

10. The young duo of Arseny Gritsyuk and Lenni Hameenaho remains very promising. They have a staggering 5-0 goals for edge and a 71.35 expected goals for percentage when playing on the same line together, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Bonus: Here’s your weekly reminder to check out our YouTube show “Speaking of the Devils.” Postgame live streams after every game and we’ll have a trio of exciting guests joining the show later today. Join in on the fun.

Question of the week (from via Rick via X): Why is Jack going to the Olympics????

I understand the arguments for and against this. The Olympics mean everything to the players, so I won’t fault Jack Hughes for going — even if he’s not 100%. That said, it would be a terrible look if he misses this crucial Devils stretch in order to rest for Milan.