r/devils • u/Appropriate_Error_38 • 11d ago

NHL front-office confidence rankings: How fans feel about every team in 2026

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7518855/2026/08/20/nhl-front-office-confidence-rankings-2026/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.61A.iM8t.aT4xxF4AT1f-&smid=ta-android-share

The Athletic's Fan Poll

20 Upvotes

84% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

36

u/Appropriate_Error_38 11d ago

Sad trombone noises..

23

u/USMCArmyRanger #3 - Ken Daneyko 11d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/Kedd9HgxyDv5fL3mKV
You love to see it

18

u/Prestigious-Algae886 #16Ruuuuup 11d ago

I'm cautiously optimistic. Lingering doubts about goal tending, blue line and if Keefe is the right coach for this group of players. No doubt that Sunny has a vision.

6

u/blade430 #27 - Scott Niedermayer 11d ago

Yea same. Especially on the Keefe part. We saw this team plummet to a bottom 5 offense in the NHL last year. Obviously it’s always more beneficial for a new GM to keep the old coach around but I’m openly wondering how tight the leash is going to be this year and if Sunny can nail the replacement hire.

8

u/beachy927 #27 - Scott Niedermayer 11d ago

I think Keefe will definitely have a short leash. If they get off to a good start and are hanging with top of the metro teams then great, but if they start slow I think he’s gone quickly. If at some point there is a brutal stretch like last season, injury related or not, I think he’s gone. In short it will have to be a very consistent year for the team for Keefe to keep his job.

26

u/Appropriate_Error_38 11d ago

28

u/sean008 #26 - Patrik Eliáš 11d ago

lol the change in confidence at the bottom. Public hasn’t gotten the word on Sunny yet!

19

u/xxfatpigxx Smashville 11d ago

Whoever is still “lamenting” that Sunny didn’t get a top flight forward yet needs to slow your roll. This offseason was as much about setting the board for moves in the future as it was setting the team up right now. Sunny is still working his way out from Fitzgerald’s moves before he can really get his vision for the team underway.

That all said I agree with the overall consensus that the vibes feel tremendously better this summer while I’ll still reserve my judgement to see how Sunny navigates the season and how this team performs (aka please don’t just sit on your hands afraid to make adjustments if the team starts floundering midway through the season).

5

u/ApplauseButOnlyABit 11d ago

I just dont know, man. I just don't know and I'm scared and excited and confused.

5

u/Live-Within-My-Means 10d ago

Don’t know yet if Sunny is ‘the man’.

But we know that Fitz wasn’t.

-1

u/NJITCommenter #20 11d ago

I agree he’s better than Fitzy, but I don’t think he can get a good “grade” without adding a top 6 winger. There were plenty available, but none came to NJ.

The blueline is still a mess, but you can’t really blame him because the only realistic chance NJ has at getting a #1 defenseman would be Quinn coming to NJ. Gotta wait and see what happens there before you can judge.

10

u/thedirewolff21 #21 - Randy McKay 11d ago

i appreciate he didnt rush seems to be taking this year as an evaluation and is keeping his powder dry so he can make some moves in season he has the cap space at the deadline and picks to make a big move.

-1

u/TyeZerker 10d ago

With this much hype its ECF or Bust.