Olympic Break Check in with Matt and Grimace
Way, way back, in the good old days of October 9, 2025, the AATJ writer’s team published their yearly season prediction. In case you missed it, each writer took the time to discuss their personal predictions for the season. This article will only be speaking for the prediction made by me, however, there is a little twist to it. I was able to score an exclusive interview with the elusive Grimace to discuss our feelings about the predictions, whether or not they are on track so far, and if they will end up being accurate by the time game 82 ends. Read below to find out more!
Matt Pavlichko: First of all Grimace, thank you for taking the time to do this. I know you have a very busy schedule, especially with being unemployable and living rent free in my house.
Grimace: Thank you for having me, and letting me live for free in your house.
MP: No problem. I’d like to start with my season thoughts from back in October. One of the first things I said in my prediction for the season, was that “the bare minimum should be making the playoffs. Anything less, in my opinion, would be considered an epic failure…Players are going to get hurt. It’s not if, it’s when. The Devils, just like any other team, both good and bad, are going to need to figure out how to soldier on with the lineup they have at any point in the year.” Looking back at those comments, 56 games into the season, what are your thoughts?
G: On one hand you were spot on. In fact, you can’t make up how spot on you were. At one point, it seemed like everyone was getting hurt. Joe Pesce, Evgenii Dadanov, and of course Jack Hughes. I think everyone knew Jack Hughes would get hurt, but the ‘how’ of him getting hurt…you almost had to laugh. Again, you can’t make this stuff up. Jack was out from 11/13, and returned on 12/21. He missed 18 games and the Devils only had 8 wins in his absence. I would say the team did not really step up and ‘soldier on’ while he was out.
MP: His name is actually Brett Pesce, but moving on. I also spoke about how “The Metropolitan Division is not what it once was, in recent history. The Islanders, Flyers and Blue Jackets will continue to be non-factors that are perpetually irrelevant. The Penguins are hanging on by their finger nails to any last shred of not playing for lottery balls. Washington…well they surprised many naysayers last year, but Ovi is another year closer to 40 and father time is undefeated. The Rangers, hatred for them aside, are one Shesterkin injury away from being a .500 team. That really only leaves the Devils and Hurricanes (sigh, yet again) as the teams to beat in the Metro.” What are your thoughts on this so far?
G: It looks like this one is a mix of both. As far as the Flyers and Blue Jackets, they still appear to not be much of a factor in the Metro, though Columbus has also shown what a mid season coaching change can do for a team (cough, cough).
G: Yes, just something in my throat. (coughs, “fire Keefe” cough, cough). Anyway, getting back to it. Washington hasn’t faceplanted, and even though they are not doing as well as they did last season, they are in the WC mix. I think the biggest surprise OUTSIDE of the Devils, is that the Islanders and Penguins are in playoff positions. No one, especially you, seemed to predict that. I think the biggest surprise of the entire Metro division, is that the Devils and Rangers are currently in 7th and 8th place respectively. While I hoped for that for the Rangers, no one, including you, expected that. You were definitely wrong here.
MP: I next said “I don’t want to hear about how young the team is anymore. Jack is entering year 7, Nico and Bratt year 9. Their goalies are seasoned veterans. At some point, tomorrow, needs to become today. If half the team gets wiped out by injuries, sure, maybe you have an argument, but at some point, the excuses need to stop, and the team needs to find a way to win, and win consistently.” Thoughts?
G: You really were not even close here on this one. At one point, early in the season, it seemed like half the team DID get wiped out by injuries. They did not really weather the storm well at all during that time. To make matters worse, once the team became reasonably healthy again, they started playing even worse. Markstrom is a shell of his former self, and the team most definitely has NOT found a way to win and win consistently.
MP: For my “bold prediction” on the season, I said that I thought Jack Hughes would become the first player in Devils history to reach 100 points and also score 100 points for the first time in his career…(gets cut off).
G: I’m gonna stop you right there and say two things. One, you need to play games to be able to score 100 points and two, let’s move on.
MP: Fair enough. For my “X-factor” section, I predicted that Bratt would get close to 100 points (I said 95). I also said he would break his record of 34 points on the PP. What do we think here?
G: Hmmm. This is an interesting one. He currently has 40 points in 56 games, which puts him on pace for 58 points on the season. I know you’re not good at math, but 58 is not very close to 95, so I’d say you were wrong on that one. He currently has 13 points on the PP, which is a 19 point pace on the season. Again, a lot less than 34, or the 35 points he’d need to break his previous high. Sorry Matt, you were way off on this one. I will give you some credit though, you did say he would “lead the team offensively again this season” and he is in 2nd place on the team in scoring with 40 points, right behind Nico and his 41 points. Though, after 56 games, that’s not really the flex it sounds like it is.
MP: Ok, let’s start wrapping up here. For my official season prediction, I said “The Devils will go 48-24-10 and finish 2nd in the division and make the playoffs. The Devils will finally defeat the Hurricanes in the playoffs and lose in the conference finals.” Hit me with it. How close was I and how do you see the rest of the season going?
G: (uncontrollable laughter) I’m sorry….(laughs) do you really..(laughs) want me to comment here? (continues laughing).
MP: I’d appreciate it if you did…
G: Ok, ok….I’m sorry (wipes tears of laughter from his eyes). What was the question again?
MP: My prediction about their record this season up to this point and how the rest of this year will actually play out.
G: Well, numerically speaking the Devils are currently on pace for 41 wins, as they have 28 wins (as of this interview) at the moment. I suppose 41 wins isn’t that far off from 48 wins. However, I don’t see them getting 48 wins this season. Heck, at this rate, 38 wins might be a stretch. They are definitely not finishing 2nd in the division. If by some miracle they make the playoffs, they are not beating the Hurricanes nor sniffing the conference finals. So I’d say in general, horrible prediction on your part.
MP: I appreciate you being so honest, as always. Thanks for doing this. The readers all appreciate it.
G: Don’t mention it, now please put the TV on for me, I have no working hands.
That’s it folks. I hope you enjoyed the interview. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and if you have any questions for Grimace, drop them in the comments and I’ll pass them along and see if he feels like answering them. Sort of a AATJ Grimace AMA.