Locked On Devils - Daily Podcast On The New Jersey Devils

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!

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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 has in store. Lia also provided her team awards, including MVP, X-Factor, & 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.

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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.

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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.

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0:00 Humble beginnings

9:46 Working his way up the industry

31:49 Devils fandom

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The offseason is moving along, but the New Jersey Devils still have some issues that they need to address. Tom Fitzgerald hasn't made a move in a while, and people are starting to grow restless. I shared my personal concerns with the team. A little later in the episode, I discussed Jacob Markstrom's 2024-25 season. He had a strong showing.

Check out Kristy Flannery's article: https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-jersey-devils/latest-news/devils-remain-with-2-big-holes-in-lineup-for-2025-26-season

Interview soundbite: Jacob Markstrom

0:00 Time to be concerned for the Devils?

12:36 Jacob Markstrom's 2024-25 season

Last summer, people didn't expect much out of Johnathan Kovacevic. Fast-forward a year, and he has transformed himself into one of the best defensive-minded defensemen on the roster. He has exceeded expectations and earned himself a nice contract extension from the New Jersey Devils. Trading for him was a smart move by Tom Fitzgerald.

Interview soundbite: Johnathan Kovacevic

0:00 Kovacevic's 2024-25 season

12:10 Kovacevic's injury update

20:56 Kovacevic reflects on the season

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I have been focusing on a lot of young talent for the New Jersey Devils this week. Cole Brown is committed to play at Notre Dame after a strong showing in the OHL. Jakub Malek is another good goalie in the system. He will be a solid contributor for the Utica Comets. Speaking of which, you will also hear from Comets head coach, Ryan Parent.

Interview soundbites: Jakub Malek, Cole Brown, and Ryan Parent (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Jakub Malek at dev camp

12:02 Cole Brown at dev camp

16:19 Comets HC Ryan...

Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey are two promising young defensemen for the New Jersey Devils. Both had standout moments this past season. Devils fans should be eager about their futures. However, with the players ahead of them, understanding what's next in their development is quite intriguing.

Interview soundbites: Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey

0:00 Simon Nemec's 2024-25 season

10:56 Seamus Casey's 2024-25 season

20:20 What's next for them?

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New Jersey Devils fans are anxiously waiting for Tom Fitzgerald to make another. Rumor has it that the Seattle Kraken are open to trading Jared McCann. He has two years remaining on his five-year, $25 million deal. That might be an option worth exploring for the Devils. You will also hear from Jimmy Dowd, Jr. and Cam Squires during development camp.

Interview soundbites: Jimmy Dowd, Jr. and Cam Squires

0:00 Jared McCann trade rumors

11:23 Cam Squires at dev camp

17:01 Jimmy Dowd, Jr. at dev camp

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It was recently announced that New Jersey Devils' play-by-play announcer Bill Spaulding will depart MSG. Longtime ESPN radio host Don La Greca will now replace him. La Greca also served as the backup broadcaster for the New York Rangers, and is also a New Jersey native. The news shocked many people. You will also hear from Trenten Bennett and Ethan Edwards during development camp.

Interview soundbites: Trenten Bennett, Ethan Edwards (Courtesy New Jersey Devils), and Seamus Casey

0:00 Bill Spaulding's departure

12:28 Trenten Bennett at dev camp

21:28 Ethan Edwards at dev camp

Dougie Hamilton's name is back in the rumor mill. Elliotte Friedman reports that the New Jersey Devils are exploring potential trades involving Hamilton. I don't think the Devils are done making moves, but moving Hamilton would be a compelling choice. You will also hear from Shane LaChance and Mikhail Yegorov during the development camp.

Interview soundbites: Shane LaChance and Mikhail Yegorov (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Will the Devils trade Dougie Hamilton?

13:24 Shane LaChance during dev camp

17:16 Mikhail Yegorov during dev camp

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A lot has happened since the Stanley Cup Final concluded. Over the past few weeks, we've had the draft, development camp, and, of course, free agency. Jersey Joe (Pucks and Pitchforks) joined me on today's episode to reflect on the offseason so far. There should be more in store once the holiday weekend is over.

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Recently added players Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown held their introductory press conferences. We will hear from them about what New Jersey Devils fans can expect from them on a nightly basis. Both players add depth, experience, and solid production. The Devils also traded for Thomas Bordeleau from the San Jose Sharks a few days ago.

Interview soundbites: Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Connor Brown's press conference

16:43 Evgenii Dadonov's press conference

24:40 Thomas Bordeleau trade

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Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings, David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) and Seth Toupal (Locked On Wild are here to talk about the big moves of free agency so far, including the Mitch Marner saga finally coming to an end, what the heck the LA Kings are doing, and where Nikolaj Ehlers is going to end up!

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The New Jersey Devils still have some work to do, but similar to what I said in the prior episode, the organization is moving in the right direction. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald held a press conference to discuss the offseason moves made so far. He also provided an update on Luke Hughes' contract and the current roster structure. In other news, Cody Glass signed a two-year extension.

Interview soundbites: Tom Fitzgerald and Cody Glass (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Are the Devils done making moves?

11:12 Tom Fitzgerald discusses the current roster structure

20:07...

The New Jersey Devils are starting to head in the right direction. They strengthened their depth scoring by signing Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown. Both players are reliable contributors who will boost the Devils' 5v5 scoring. Additionally, the Devils re-signed Jake Allen to a five-year extension, maintaining their goaltending stability.

Interview soundbite: Jake Allen (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Jake Allen's extension

12:44 Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown signings

21:12 Successful start?

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0:00 Matthew Schaefer

11:45 Ben Kevan's live press conference

18:39 Ben Kevan's Zoom press conference

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Even though the New Jersey Devils didn't have a first-round pick, they still managed to make some notable selections. Conrad Fondrk, Ben Kevan, and Mason Moe all bring unique skill sets, even if their stats don't show it. Fondrk and Moe held their introductory press conferences via Zoom. You will hear from them on today's episode. Although Kevan was present for the draft, he also held a Zoom press conference in addition to an in-person one in Los Angeles.

Interview soundbites: Conrad Fondrk, Ben Kevan, and Mason Moe (Courtesy New Jersey Devils)

0:00 Conrad Fondrk

The second day of the draft has now concluded. The New Jersey Devils had seven picks between rounds 2-7. Some of the key prospects they selected were Conrad Fondrk, Ben Kevan, and Mason Moe. The Devils didn't make any trades during the draft, but things might start to pick up around July 1st. This year's draft wasn't as exciting as last year's in Las Vegas.

Recorded live at the Peacock Theater

Interview soundbite: Ben Kevan

0:00 Draft recap

5:47 Hear from Ben Kevan

16:11 My final thoughts on the draft

...

The second day of the draft has now concluded. The New Jersey Devils had seven picks between rounds 2-7. Some of the key prospects they selected were Conrad Fondrk, Ben Kevan, and Mason Moe. The Devils didn't make any trades during the draft, but things might start to pick up around July 1st. This year's draft wasn't as exciting as last year's in Las Vegas.

Recorded live at the Peacock Theater

Interview soundbite: Ben Kevan

0:00 Draft recap

5:47 Hear from Ben Kevan

16:11 My final thoughts on the draft

...

Day 1 of the NHL Draft has concluded, but it was a very long and tedious process. Matthew Scharfer was drafted first overall by the New York Islanders. It's incredible that the Islanders were able to secure three first-round picks. However, the New Jersey Devils didn't have a first-round pick, and people are wondering what's next for them, especially with July 1st fast approaching.

Interview soundbites: Matthew Schaefer and Gary Bettman (Courtesy NHL)

Recorded live from the Peacock Theater

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Welcome to the NHL Squad Show! Today our hosts Gil Martin (Locked On Islanders), Eddie Garcia (Locked On Kings, David Morassutti (Locked On Leafs) and Armando Velez (Locked On Panthers) are here to talk about the upcoming NHL draft, any potential free agency surprises, and about Alexander Mogilny finally making it into the Hall of Fame!

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