Whitney: Devils fans, we are seventh in the Metro right now, and I say that's a joke. The panel has us behind teams we are going to beat. Today we break down the power rankings and why we're being slept on.
Terry: Whitney, you're fired up already. I love it.
Whitney: You know it. Welcome back to Beatline, the only daily podcast that bleeds Devils red. I'm Whitney, and alongside me, the sharpest hockey mind in the business, Terry.
Terry: I'm Terry. Let's get into it.
Whitney: Here's what we're hitting today. First, we're breaking down that seventh-place ranking in the Metropolitan Division and why the panel might be sleeping on us. Then, we're digging into our biggest strengths and the question marks that keep us up at night. And finally, we're giving you our realistic win projection and a season outlook that might surprise you.
Terry: Plus, we check in on the big moves: Nico's extension, the Mantha signing, and that offer sheet to Hayton. Stick with us.
Whitney: Alright, Terry. Seventh in the Metropolitan. That puts us behind the usual suspects, but also some teams we flat-out beat last year. What's your read on that ranking?
Terry: Well, Whitney, the panel looks at the division and sees the Rangers, the Hurricanes, the Penguins, and they slot us behind them. But what they're not factoring in is the massive upgrade we made up front this summer.
Whitney: You're talking about Mantha and the offer sheet to Hayton?
Terry: Exactly. Adding Anthony Mantha gives us a big body on the right wing who can score, and if we land Barrett Hayton, that's a young, two-way center who can slot right into our top nine. That changes the complexion of this team.
Whitney: And don't forget the captain. Nico Hischier signed a five-year extension worth $58.5 million. That's a statement.
Terry: It's huge. Locking up your captain, your 200-foot center, through his prime. That's the kind of move that stabilizes a franchise. And it tells the room they believe in this group.
Whitney: So why are we still seventh? What's the knock on us?
Terry: The knock is the unknown. We've got a lot of new faces, a bunch of young guys fighting for spots, and the goaltending is still a question mark for some. But I look at the talent top to bottom and I think we're better than seventh.
Whitney: Let's talk about that goaltending, because Jake Allen is our projected starter, but we've got Nico Daws and David Rittich pushing for time.
Terry: Right. And like we said on Friday, Jake Allen gets the nod on opening night. He's the veteran, he's proven he can handle a starter's workload. But the leash is short. If he struggles, you've got Daws right there.
Whitney: Okay, so what would it take for us to move up in these rankings? A hot start in October?
Terry: Absolutely. We open the season at home against the Flyers on October first. If we come out flying and win that one, the narrative shifts overnight. The panel will have to adjust.
Whitney: And that's the game we're circling. We'll get to that later, but first, let's break down what we do best and where we're vulnerable.
Whitney: Alright Terry, strengths first. What's the biggest weapon this team has?
Terry: It's the top six, no question. Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, and now you add Mantha. That's a top line that can skate with anyone. And the power play should be lethal with Dougie Hamilton on the point.
Whitney: We saw flashes of that last year. When the power play was clicking, we were unstoppable.
Terry: And the penalty kill is solid with Hischier and Mercer. That's a good foundation.
Whitney: Now the question marks. What keeps you up at night, Terry?
Terry: The right wing competition is a good problem to have, but it's a question mark. You've got Mantha, Gritsyuk, and a few others all fighting for time. We talked about it yesterday — Gritsyuk might win that job out of camp, but where does that leave Mantha?
Whitney: That's a lot of talent to fit into the lineup. What about the blue line? Dougie Hamilton is coming back from injury.
Terry: That's the big one. If Dougie is healthy and back to his Norris-caliber self, that changes everything. But if he's not, the defense gets thin. We need Luke Hughes to take a step, and Brett Pesce to be the steady presence we signed him to be.
Whitney: And the goaltending - we touched on it. Is Jake Allen enough to get us where we need to go?
Terry: I think it's good enough, but it's not elite. We're not going to win games 1-0 every night. We need our offense to outscore our mistakes. And that's a risky formula in the playoffs.
Whitney: But in the regular season, we can put up points. We've got the firepower.
Terry: Exactly. And that's why I'm still high on this team. The floor is high, but the ceiling depends on health and goaltending.
Whitney: Alright, so give me the realistic outlook. What's our win total this year?
Whitney: Time for the segment where we put it all together. Terry, what's your win projection?
Terry: I'm going to say 96 points. That's a four-point improvement from last year, and it puts us right in the wild card mix. We might still finish sixth or seventh in the Metro, but we'll be in the conversation.
Whitney: I had you at 95. You're getting optimistic on me.
Terry: I'm bullish, Whitney. This team added scoring, the captain is locked in, and the young guys are hungry. I think they surprise some people.
Whitney: And if Hayton signs, where does that put us?
Terry: If Hayton comes in, that's another 15-20 goals and a real two-way presence down the middle. That could push us to 100 points. That's a playoff team.
Whitney: But we need to start fast. October first against the Flyers is a statement game.
Terry: The building is going to be rocking. And if we come out and lay a beating on Philly, the power rankings have to move us up.
Whitney: Let's make a prediction right now: we win that home opener.
Terry: I'll take that bet. Flyers are rebuilding, we're on the rise. Devils win 4-2.
Whitney: I'll take 5-2. But either way, we're walking out of there with two points.
Terry: And that's the message to the rest of the Metro: we're not here to be seventh. We're here to contend.
Whitney: That's all for today, Devils fans. Remember, we're seventh in the power rankings, but we're number one in our hearts. Make sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with a fellow fan.
Terry: And follow us on social so you never miss an episode. We'll be back tomorrow with more Devils talk.
Whitney: Until then, let's go, Devils!