Yes, the Devils could use better goalies, but I also think this team was capable to compete for a playoff spot, at the very least. They did last year and Carolina is getting done this year. Furthermore, I don’t believe that the Flyers have a better roster either.
Ruff struggled with roster management. His lineups put players out of position and in the worst situation to succeed. It was clear the team struggled playing his system on defense. We watched the Devils chasing the puck all season long in their own zone. To make matters worse, there was no grit and no urgency in their own zone. Where did that tenacity go from last year. The team looked lost and deflated for the better part of the season. Yes, there were injuries, but tonight they played at a level that they are capable without Dougie. Also, I always liked Toffoli because he could score goals since his days in LA, but I think this team has goal scorers and they didn’t need him tonight. If they can get a 1st round pick, he should make the trade.
I can only hope that they can continue to play like tonight for the rest of the season and who knows, maybe they can win 15 games get in.
You are also right, this is a message board for Devils fans. There will be bad takes and good takes, but at the end of the day we all love our Devils.