Locked On Devils - Daily Podcast On The New Jersey Devils

Charlie Coyle's recent contract extension with the Columbus Blue Jackets—a six-year deal at $6 million per year despite Coyle being 34—serves as a warning sign for the New Jersey Devils about the dangers of overpaying in free agency. Zach Berman urges the Devils to steer clear of such costly contracts when shopping for players in 2026, emphasizing that the team is in a much better position now wit...

Zach Berman opened the episode by announcing that New Jersey Devils General Manager Sunny Mehta made his first major hire of the offseason, bringing in Braden Birch as Assistant General Manager and as General Manager of the Utica Comets, the Devils’ AHL affiliate. This move marks the beginning of Mehta’s efforts to strengthen the Devils’ front office, starting by recruiting talent from his previou...

Zach Berman opens the episode discussing reports that new New Jersey Devils GM Sonny Mehta is looking to bring two key front office figures from his former employer, the Florida Panthers—Bryan McCabe and Braden Birch—into the Devils organization. Zach Berman frames this as an exciting opportunity for New Jersey, particularly given the team's struggles with player development and cap management in...

The episode, hosted by Zach Berman, centers on the New Jersey Devils' position in the upcoming 2026 NHL Draft after not moving up in the lottery and remaining with the 12th overall pick. Zach Berman expresses frustration at the Devils’ frequent absence from playoff contention and the team’s repeated reliance on the draft lottery for hope, marking this as their 11th lottery appearance in 14 seasons...

Chuck Fletcher and Dan McKinnon have been fired from the New Jersey Devils organization as part of significant changes to the team's front office, a move that Zach Berman describes as long overdue at 00:12:49. Fletcher, who served as Senior Advisor to the President, Hockey Operations and General Manager, is criticized by Zach Berman for carrying over his poor front office track record from the Phi...

Zach Berman opened the episode by acknowledging the season as one of the most disappointing in New Jersey Devils franchise history, characterized by both rare moments of happiness and several infuriating lows. He began with an overview of current league playoff matchups, reflecting on which teams Devils fans might root for in the absence of their own team and voicing frustration that it “should ha...

The New Jersey Devils have initiated preliminary contract extension discussions with their captain, Nico Hischier, who is entering the final year of his current deal. Zach Berman explains that new general manager Sunny Mehta is proactively reaching out to Hischier’s camp, with both sides indicating a clear interest in keeping the captain in New Jersey for the long term. The most commonly predicted...

In this episode, Zach Berman offers an enthusiastic and detailed analysis of Sunny Mehta’s introduction as the new General Manager of the New Jersey Devils, following his impressive opening press conference. Key Takeaways * Press Conference Performance * Zach Berman describes Sunny Mehta's opening presser as about as close to a "grand slam" as an opening press conference can get, praising Mehta’s...

Zach Berman opened the episode by reflecting on the excitement surrounding the Buffalo Sabres' dramatic playoff win, expressing happiness for Lindy Ruff and comparing the different dynamics of this year's NHL playoffs from a Devils fan perspective. He noted the odd feeling of not having the Rangers as a direct rival in the playoffs and discussed general playoff rivalries and rooting interests amon...

Zach Berman opens the episode by addressing the initial excitement around the New Jersey Devils hiring Sonny Mehta as their new general manager. Despite Mehta being a highly desired candidate and the Devils job seen as the most attractive GM position available, Zach Berman stresses that the work ahead will be significantly more challenging than fans might hope. He explains that former GM Tom Fitzg...

In the episode "A Sunny Day In Hell: New Jersey Devils GET THEIR GUY: Land Sunny Mehta as GM," Zach Berman expresses excitement and relief as the New Jersey Devils secure Sunny Mehta as their new general manager. Zach Berman emphasizes that this hire marks a significant turning point for the franchise, especially after concerns that the Devils might come up short in their GM search. He details how...

The episode opens with Zach Berman expressing relief that the challenging 2025-2026 New Jersey Devils season has finally ended, describing it as one of the most disappointing in franchise history relative to expectations. He briefly mentions the final game against Boston—a 4-0 loss that encapsulated the team’s struggles and lack of motivation, particularly highlighting the failure of goaltender Ni...

Zach Berman kicked off the episode reflecting on the end of the New Jersey Devils' "Jersey Jersey" alternate sweater era and previewed two games to cover, as well as speculating about a floated Nico Hischier for Dylan Larkin trade. He attended a Flames game in Calgary, noting ex-Devils' performances, and expressed frustration at former goalie Vitek Vanecek’s play, suggesting it contributed to Lind...

Zach Berman dives into the New Jersey Devils' ongoing search for a new general manager, with Sunny Mehta emerging as the top target. The Devils face stiff competition from the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are also interested in Mehta. The GM search is being overseen primarily by David Blitzer and Bob Myers, not Martin Brodeur, although Brodeur still holds some influence in the organization. Zach Berma...

Zach Berman opens the episode by noting the New Jersey Devils have fired GM Tom Fitzgerald and are starting their search for a new general manager and president of hockey operations (POHO) 00:01:24. He highlights Sunny Mehta as the top GM candidate, emphasizing Mehta’s strong analytics background, prior experience with the Devils, and recent success helping build the Florida Panthers. Zach Berman...

The New Jersey Devils have been officially eliminated from playoff contention, marking a merciful end to a disastrous season. Zach Berman emphasized at 00:00:38 that, although mathematically four games remain, the combination of poor performances and external results sealed the Devils' fate. Key factors included underwhelming decisions by former GM Tom Fitzgerald, whose lack of urgency at the trad...

Zach Berman began the live broadcast by expressing his surprise and excitement at the news that Tom Fitzgerald is no longer part of the New Jersey Devils organization, emphasizing the monumental nature of the moment for Devils fans at 00:00:22. He cited the official team statement by managing partner David Blitzer, which described Fitzgerald's departure as a mutual decision after a thoughtful conv...

Zach Berman opens with frustration about the New Jersey Devils' recent high-level play, lamenting that this up-tempo, high-scoring style emerged far too late in the season to rescue their playoff hopes. He points out that the Devils decisively beat the Washington Capitals, effectively ending the Capitals' playoff chances and making a statement win with a seven-goal outburst, but questions why this...

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Zach Berman begins by expressing his frustration with the New Jersey Devils’ ownership and their perennial struggles against the Carolina Hurricanes, particularly in Raleigh. He sets the scene for an episode recapping another predictable loss for the Devils, where they managed only one meaningful goal, extending a multi-year losing streak in Carolina. Zach Berman details the game’s progression, hi...

The New Jersey Devils have recently returned to winning form, beating strong teams on the road, but a looming matchup against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh threatens to halt their momentum. According to Zach Berman, the Devils historically struggle against Carolina, whose aggressive Rod Brind'amour system consistently exposes New Jersey’s weaknesses, both in the regular season and playoffs. T...

The episode opens with Zach Berman reflecting on the New Jersey Devils' recent winning streak, including a notable victory over the Nashville Predators. Despite the excitement of these wins and the strong March record, Zach Berman expresses conflicted feelings, questioning whether these late-season successes are truly beneficial for the team's long-term future. He argues that while winning is enjo...

The episode opens with Zach Berman expressing his skepticism about the New Jersey Devils' recent winning streak, which had come mostly against weaker teams. He sets the stage by stating he wouldn’t be convinced of this team’s progress until they beat a genuinely strong opponent. The Devils did exactly that, stunning the Dallas Stars—one of the top teams in the league—with a 6-4 victory on the road...

On this episode of Locked on Devils, Zach Berman kicks things off with a lively recap of his recent visit to Edmonton to watch an Oilers game. He’s candid about his lackluster impression of the city and its amenities, but is blown away by Rogers Place’s atmosphere, comparing it favorably to his experiences at other NHL arenas. He notes the outstanding fan engagement, music, and arena energy, highl...

The episode centers on the New Jersey Devils' recent loss to the Washington Capitals, a game that Zach Berman describes as "fine," noting the primary difference was the superior performance of the Capitals’ goalie, Logan Thompson. The mood around the game was nonchalant, with Zach Berman suggesting it might have been better for the Devils to lose in order to reinforce the need for organizational c...