Fan appreciation night didn’t exactly go as planned.
After a 4-2 loss to the Presidents’ Trophy winning New York Rangers, the Devils were booed off the ice by a pro-Ranger crowd. On a night designed to give back to the fans at the Prudential Center, enough weren’t around to counteract an onslaught from giddy Rangers fans in Newark.
The problem, of course, wasn’t the lack of Devils fans in the building or sparring match between hockey fanatics in a mostly meaningless late-season game. Instead, the issue lies with a poor Devils team that has gone through a dysfunctional and disappointing regular season.
With a tough season coming to an end, fans have reacted on NJ.com. From the booing last night to the season as a whole to changes that must be made, the discussion has been passionate.
Here’s a sampling of what fans have had to say:
FlyingHigh77: The NJ Devils have most expensive offense group in the NHL, yet are ranked 28th in goal scoring. It’s all about value and it appears Lou Lamoriello has more ‘Dollars than Sense’. Add the ridiculous NMC/NTC to these overpriced; second hand goods, damaged good, obsolete goods, over-the-hill goods, and you have a patchwork quilt recipe for disaster for years to come.
Lou stated the “Devils team is not rebuilding”… who heck is he fooling? This team is far from an NHL contender, needs major roster changes and the results clearly show the mistakes on the ice. The definition of insanity is: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Well, Lou?
POLL: Is Lou Lamoriello overrated?
Jimmy_kong: Devil fans have always been the hardest to read win or lose their fans come on the train the same way quiet and defeated. That type of attitude is why rival fans can take over their arena so easy.
Devils31: If we don’t start drafting well we’re never gonna get back to where we were. We have a goalie and some young D-men, but no scoring whatsoever!
I hate the Rags obnoxious fans, but they have built a team by drafting well which is why they will unfortunately be good for a long time.
artemus908: disgraceful. and they call themselves “fans”. You trash them online, or in blogs or whatever. You NEVER boo your own team live in the arena. It gets on TV, makes us look bad, just creates a poor opinion of the franchise as a whole, regardless of the team’s performance, that we can’t support our team blindly in good times AND bad. Go sulk about the season but don’t call yourselves fans unless you can come back after a loss, turn on the game (or show up to one) and forget the previous one.
Also, these people that show up to the game, usually late, then leave halfway through the 3rd, winning or losing because they’re more concerned with “beating traffic out of Newark” (when they ARE the traffic) or catching a train. Seriously, why bother buying a ticket if you’re only going to stay for half the game. Same people back at CAA that wanted to beat the traffic on Rt.3, ridiculous.
LakepPuke: Even the Devils marketing department is clueless. Anybody get one of those “giveaway” posters? It was a perfect metaphor for the organization, a couple of empty Devil jerseys hanging in thin air.
What was your reaction when the Devils were booed off the ice in the home finale? Leave your thoughts below in the comments section to keep the conversation going!
Joe Giglio may be reached at jgiglio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoeGiglioSports. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
