Locked On Devils - Daily Podcast On The New Jersey Devils

The title is self explanatory.

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Simon Nemec is the third defenseman in New Jersey Devils franchise history to record a hat trick. And he also won it in overtime. Nothing else. No notes.

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Zach previews the New Jersey Devils' first game of a five-game road trip, as they're set to take on Connor Bedard and the Chicago Blackhawks! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For the first time all season, the New Jersey Devils cannot put a pitchfork in a game on home ice, and Zach laments the end of the Prudential Center win streak. Still, there is plenty of positive to take away from last night's contest, and Zach finds himself awfully excited about the direction of the overall team.

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Zach previews the first Devils-Islanders matchup of the season, and breaks down some of the lineup shuffles as well as his excitement over seeing Islanders 1OA pick Matthew Schaefer for the first time.

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Zach recaps a thrilling Devils shootout victory over the surprising Pittsburgh Penguins, and lauds the play of goaltender Jake Allen and forward Arseny Gritsyuk while doing so. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zach breaks down what was a wild night at the Prudential Center for the New Jersey Devils, complete with frustrating goaltending, another significant injury on the back end, and a finish for the ages! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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Both Zach and the New Jersey Devils have returned home to the Garden State from their time in California, and there is plenty to discuss. From Jacob Markstrom's extension to the Devils' weekend back-to-back in Southern California, Zach breaks down the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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Uh oh. Zach recaps an ugly Devils performance in San Jose with plenty of concerning trends, and has some thoughts about Sheldon Keefe's statements postgame. Zach also previews the Devils' weekend ahead in Southern California, and why it is so crucial for them to get right. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Zach is live, and on site for real, at the SAP Center in San Jose for tonight's New Jersey Devils vs San Jose Sharks matchup. Zach previews the goalie matchup and also walks through some interesting decisions regarding the defensive pairings, as well as as some former Devils getting a chance to beat their former team. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Well, that MarkSTUNK. Zach dissects the New Jersey Devils' 8-4 loss to the Colorado Avalanche last night. 

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Live from an undisclosed location in the Philadelphia airport, it's another episode of Locked on Devils. Zach discusses his thoughts on the roster moves ahead of tonight's Devils-Avs rematch in Denver, and can't help but feel that the win streak comes to a close in Colorado. Additionally, there are some thoughts on former Devils' netminder Scott Wedgewood, as well as how the Devils could use some potential LTIR money with some injury updates. Lastly, Zach laments how the NHL has marketed tonight's Frozen Frenzy event, but will he catch his flight in time? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See...

The New Jersey Devils win streak keeps on rolling, as Zach Berman breaks down a perfect weekend with victories over the San Jose Sharks and Colorado Avalanche. Zach also laments Brett Pesce's injury, but is excited about Jacob Markstrom's return. Lastly, Zach talks about staying humble when things are going as well as they have been, ahead of the Devils' impending West Coast swing.

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Can the New Jersey Devils extend their win streak to 7 games tonight against the pesky San Jose Sharks? Zach previews tonight's matchup. In addition, he also revisits some past trauma (the last two Sharks @ Devils matchups), waxes poetic about former Devil and current Shark Tyler Toffoli, and quickly previews the Devils matinee matchup vs the Avalanche for Sunday! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

THE STREAK HAS GONE TO SIX, as the New Jersey Devils continued their winning ways with a 4-1 victory over the Minnesota Wild.First, Zach Berman breaks down last night's affair, including Arseny Gritsyuk's first NHL goal, and a sparkling outing by Nico Daws in net. After that, he has some thoughs about former Devils' head coach John Hynes and the job he's done with the Wild, including a quote from yesterday's pregame. Lastly, Zach takes a look at the happenings in Utica and their 0-3-1 start. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for...

The New Jersey Devils demolished the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Tuesday night to pick up their fifth-straight win. On today's show, new host Zach Berman breaks down the win over the Leafs, previews tonight's back to back against the Minnesota Wild, and talks about some early season concerns about defenseman Simon Nemec. First, Zach digs into the win over Toronto, which showcased the Devils' superiority over a pretty flat looking Leafs squad. Next, Zach talks about the matchup with Kirill Kaprizov and the Wild and details why he thinks this might be a scheduled loss for the Devils...

Can the Washington Capitals repeat their magical 2024-25 NHL season that saw them top the Eastern Conference? Can the New York Rangers bounce back from a terrible season? Will this FINALLY be the year the Carolina Hurricanes make it back to the Stanley Cup Final? And can the New Jersey Devils just stay healthy? Today in the Locked On NHL Metro Contenders Season Preview Special, Jon Chik (Locked On Rangers), Alex Wiederspiel (Locked On NHL Game Night/Devils), Zach Martin (Locked On Hurricanes) and Dan Holmi (Locked On Capitals) team up to preview the season for the Metro Division’s...

This is my final episode. It's not clickbait nor a joke. I am leaving the Locked On Podcast Network because I accepted a new job. Jersey Joe (Pucks & Pitchforks) and Jim Biringer (Full Press Hockey) helped me say goodbye. Thank you for all of your support over the past five years. I love you all!

Follow Jersey Joe on "X": @JerseyJoe11_NJ

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Former New Jersey Devils winger Nathan Bastian accompanied me on today's bonus episode. We talked about his tenure with the New Jersey Devils and some of his favorite memories. He also explained his free agency process and why he signed with the Dallas Stars several weeks ago. I also made a bittersweet announcement shortly before the interview.

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Lia Marie Nuzzi (ONNJ Sports) accompanied me on today's episode to reflect on the New Jersey Devils' 2024-25 season. We discussed what went right and wrong for them, their offseason, and what the future holds. Lia also provided her team awards, including MVP, X-Factor, and unsung hero.

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NHL 26 by EA Sports is set to release on September 5th. Popular Twitch streamer Henreek joined me on today's episode to talk about the highly anticipated video game. There will be a lot of new features, including a revamped "Be a Pro." Henreek is also a New Jersey Devils fan, so we talked about the team and his expectations.

Follow Henreek on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/henreek

0:00 Thoughts on Chel 25 & Changes to Chel 26

8:51 Changes to Be a Pro & Devils ratings

21:50 Thoughts on the Devils

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We have another Luke Hughes contract update: It's being reported that Luke wants a five-year extension. Which means he and his older brother, Jack, could potentially become unrestricted free agents in 2030. The New Jersey Devils either want to sign Luke to a three-year bridge deal or the maximum eight years.

Check out Ryan Novozinsky's latest article: https://www.nj.com/devils/2025/08/how-slow-nhl-offseason-is-affecting-devils-luke-hughes-extension-talks.html

0:00 Dry market in the NHL

8:27 Luke Hughes' contract update

17:20 Luke's status for training camp

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Similar to Brenden Dillon, Brett Pesce's first season with the New Jersey Devils was also solid. He wasn't afraid to block shots and knew how to handle himself. More importantly, he appeared to be a great mentor to Luke Hughes and his development. In other news, the Devils will have 13 nationally televised games this season.

Interview soundbite: Brett Pesce (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Brett Pesce's 2024-25 season

9:55 Pesce's relationship with Luke Hughes

22:04 National TV schedule

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Brenden Dillon's first year with the New Jersey Devils was solid. He provided defense, physicality, and veteran leadership. All of these qualities are crucial for a playoff team. Unfortunately, his playoff run was cut short last season due to a neck injury in game one against the Carolina Hurricanes, but he'll be ready to go by training camp.

Interview soundbites: Brenden Dillon

0:00 Brenden Dillon's 2024-25 season

11:31 Dillon's injury

17:56 Lessons learned

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Just when you thought we couldn't get any deeper into the offseason, Mike Rupp made a controversial comment on NHL Network. He said he would take a healthy Jack Hughes over Auston Matthews. We need the season to start soon. Also, Simon Nemec has been hitting the gym. He's approaching the final year of his entry-level contract.

Soundbite courtesy NHL Network

0:00 Jack Hughes OVER Auston Matthews?!

10:02 Who could've used 15 extra goals?

18:54 Simon Nemec has been hitting the gym

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Jersey Joe (Pucks and Pitchforks) joined me on today's episode, and he has high expectations for Arseniy Gritsyuk. His hot take is that Gritsyuk will score over 30 goals for the New Jersey Devils this season. Naturally, he's a highly praised rookie, but that's an interesting perspective. He explained his reasoning during our discussion. We also discussed Luke Hughes' contract and shared our thoughts on the offseason thus far.

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0:00 Luke Hughes' contract

16:19 Can Arseniy Gritsyuk score 30-plus goals?!

28:23 Closing thoughts

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I decided to do something different in today's episode: react to some of your hot takes on the New Jersey Devils. There were definitely some interesting opinions. Has Timo Meier been a disappointment? Should Tom Fitzgerald be fired? Is Ondrej Palat really the problem? Hopefully, you don't pull your hair out by the end of the episode.

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New Jersey Devils prospect Ben Kevan joined me on today's episode. The Devils selected him 63rd overall in the 2025 NHL Draft. He is originally from Fairfield, California, and is committed to Arizona State University. We discussed his hockey career, the Sun Devils hockey program, and his experience at development camp.

Follow Ben on Instagram: _benkevan

0:00 Humble beginnings

9:34 Arizona State University

19:28 NHL Draft

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Newly signed Adirondack Thunder defenseman Jimmy Dowd, Jr. joined me on today's episode. He is the son of 1995 Stanley Cup champion Jim Dowd. Jimmy played for the Penn State Nittany Lions during his college career. The Nittany Lions appeared in the Frozen Four this past season. Jimmy discussed his playing career and his excitement to begin his professional journey.

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0:00 Humble beginnings

11:18 Career at Penn State

26:13 Start of pro career

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On today's episode, I answer your questions that you sent in to me. Nico Hischier will become a free agent in 2027, but would he ever consider leaving the New Jersey Devils? Arseni Gritsyuk signed a one-year entry-level contract. Will he have a significant impact this season?

0:00 Will Nico Hischier leave the Devils in 2027?

11:02 Missing pieces?

19:13 Arseni Gritsyuk's potential

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The New Jersey Devils have a lot of talent on their roster, but they haven't consistently surpassed expectations. If they get solid production from their bottom-six and stay healthy, could they potentially compete for a Stanley Cup? I also assigned Tom Fitzgerald a letter grade for his offseason work so far.

0:00 Are the Devils Stanley Cup contenders?

14:47 Offseason letter grade

20:30 What needs to happen next?

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The New Jersey Devils have a lot of talent on their roster. However, they don't have forever. They need to start making significant progress next season. Their offseason hasn't been very exciting, and it definitely raises many questions. The additions that they've made are solid, but not spectacular. Worth mentioning that Luke Hughes still hasn't signed his extension.

Check out Ryan Novozinsky's article: https://www.nj.com/devils/2025/08/novozinsky-back-at-the-rink-and-covering-the-devils-again.html

0:00 Luke Hughes' contract update

9:01 Make or break for the Devils?

21:43 Concerns regarding the offseason so far

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Former New Jersey Devils goalie Keith Kinkaid joined me on today's episode. We discussed his time with the Devils organization (2011-2019), especially his standout 2017-18 season. He also shared some of his other NHL experiences and what he's been doing lately. He's currently preparing for the 3ICE championship tournament. The last team he played for was the Savannah Ghost Pirates in the ECHL.

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0:00 Humble beginnings

9:00 2017-18 Stanley Cup Playoff run

21:16 3ICE Tournament & future plans

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There have been many rumors about Quinn Hughes and his future with the Vancouver Canucks. It's been said that Quinn wants to join his brothers, Jack and Luke, someday. A trade to the New Jersey Devils might be unavoidable. Noah Strang (The Strang Stack) joined me on today's episode to talk about Quinn's future.

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Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, and three other former Team Canada members were recently acquitted of sexual assault charges from 2018. Many people have questions, and I will do my best to answer them. I explained the story and the reasoning behind Justice Maria Carroccia's decision. The players have not been reinstated to play in the NHL again.

Today's episode focuses on a sensitive topic (viewer discretion is advised)

Full timeline: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/39436540/hockey-canada-sexual-assault-case-scandal-news-updates

0:00 Background information

8:42 The trial and decision

18:56 What happens next?

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July is nearly over, and the New Jersey Devils still have some work ahead. Matthew Blittner (Sportsology) joined me on today's episode to reflect on the offseason so far and what lies ahead for the team. We discussed potential trade options to create cap space and expectations for the upcoming season. We're still awaiting the Luke Hughes extension.

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Another day, another instance where Luke Hughes hasn't signed his extension yet. Clearly, he will return to the New Jersey Devils, but it all comes down to money and duration from both sides. The Devils have a solid team, but nothing exceptional. It'll be interesting to see what the future holds for the organization. Jim Biringer (Full Press Hockey) joined me on today's episode to discuss the Hughes situation and what's next for the Devils.

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Paul Cotter was acquired last offseason in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights. Many believed the Devils gave up too much to get him. Although he faced some struggles at times, he was impactful this season for the New Jersey Devils. I also shared my reactions to the 2025-26 NHL schedule. The Devils will only face their dreaded rival three times this upcoming season.

Interview soundbite: Paul Cotter

0:00 Devils 2025-26 schedule

12:17 Paul Cotter's 2025-26 season

21:21 What does Cotter need to work on?

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New Jersey Devils television play-by-play announcer Don La Greca joined me on today's episode. He was recently named the new voice for the Devils, succeeding Bill Spaulding. As a lifelong Devils fan, he calls this opportunity his "dream job." He has many years of experience in the industry, including roles with the New York Rangers, ESPN, YES, and more.

Follow Don on the "X" app: @DonLaGreca

0:00 Humble beginnings

9:46 Working his way up in the industry

31:49 Devils fandom

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