The Devils are flying under the radar for the 2018-19 season

The future is bright for my New Jersey Devils.

After losing to the Kings in the 2012 Cup Finals, the Devils missed out on the postseason for five straight seasons. But last year, with an MVP effort from Taylor Hall and promising signs from rookie Nico Hischier, New Jersey returned to the playoffs.

Coach John Hynes helped guide the squad to a 44-29-9 record in a stacked Metropolitan Division. The Devils finished with 97 points on the season, good enough for one of the Wild Card spots in the Eastern Conference.

In the playoffs, the Devils matched up against the Lightning. It turned out to be more of a learning experience than a playoff showdown for New Jersey as Tampa Bay disposed of the Devils in five games. They would go on to the Conference Finals, but fell to the soon-to-be champs, the Capitals.

In the 2018-19 NHL season, the Devils are being overlooked as a team that could make some noise in the playoffs. After Hall's breakthrough Hart Trophy season, he ought to be in the MVP conversation for a few more years. Hischier, who was the number one overall pick in the '17 draft, put up 52 points in his debut season.

The defensive side of things continues to be guided by veteran Andy Greene, the team's captain. Will Butcher and Sami Vatanen also headline the defense. Goalie Cory Schneider will be looking to regain his All-Star form, while backup Keith Kinkaid is more than capable in the starting spot. Eddie Lack was added in the offseason, giving the goalie position some more depth.

As I said, the Metropolitan Division is loaded. You've got the defending champs in the Caps, the 2016 and 2017 champs in the Penguins, the solid Flyers squad in Philly and the Blue Jackets, who claimed the other Wild Card spot along with the Devils.

Still, the Devils seem to be getting glossed over. Washington and Pittsburgh are givens, while Columbus should keep improving alongside the Devils. But New Jersey should be in the conversation; Hall is the MVP, Hischier has a very bright future ahead of him and the young core of Hall/Hischier/Butcher can now say they have playoff experience together.

I bet on the Devils to win the Stanley Cup while I was in Vegas. It's safe to say that I like our chances next year.

I like them a lot.

Image credit: NHL.com

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