A recent survey of nearly 10,000 people by The Athletic (a subscription service) found that the New Jersey Devils have dropped six spots from last season, from first to seventh in trust in their team’s management.
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In addition to their overall team ranking, each team was given a grade. The Devils received an A- for their overall team grade, divided into seven categories.
The highest grade they got was an A for Draft and Develop, but that was from the audience, from the fanbase they got a C+.
This is especially surprising given the Devils’ successful selection and development of key players, including Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier.
From a fan perspective, the Devils were given a B rating. The highest-rated category was Trading, which is not unexpected given the team’s strategic acquisitions, such as secondary scorers and a starting goalie, via trades.
Despite this drop, from first to seventh in the NHL (as seen in the tweet above), it is still a commendable achievement. The Devils still hold a top-ten ranking, which shows that their approach is well-received by the fans.
While the drop in confidence can be attributed to their failure to make the playoffs last season, the Devils are expected to challenge for the top spot in the Metro Division this season, which should likely boost their overall ranking and standings.
