Cold Shoulder: Luke Hurt, Nemo the New Jersey Devils Hero in Calgary with Alex Chauvancy

The episode kicks off with Zach Berman humorously lamenting another eventful day for the New Jersey Devils: Simone Nemec netted yet another dramatic overtime winner, while Luke Hughes suffered a shoulder injury—echoing his brother’s history of similar issues. Zach Berman reflects on the Hughes brothers' incredible talent and unfortunate trouble with shoulder injuries, a running theme for the family. Joined by guest Alex Chauvancy, the conversation sets the stage for a recap of the Devils’ recent win in Calgary and anticipation for the upcoming matchup in Edmonton, especially given the team’s ongoing injury woes. As Alex Chauvancy introduces himself and his Devils-centric Substack and podcast, discussion pivots to the long-term impact of Luke Hughes’ injury. Both speakers are puzzled at how such a minor play resulted in a dislocated shoulder and analyze the implications for the team’s defensive lineup. The loss of Hughes could alter trade strategies, cementing Simone Nemec’s place in the lineup and changing the roles of other defenders. Despite the injury cloud, they credit the Devils for securing crucial points in Calgary, especially as the team grapples with inconsistent play and a need for momentum. The conversation shifts to bright spots, particularly rookie Lenni Hameenaho, whose debut provided a welcome spark to the Devils’ forward group. Zach Berman and Alex Chauvancy praise Hameenaho’s confidence, intelligence, and immediate impact—outchancing Calgary while on the ice and energizing his teammates. They also dissect upcoming games on the road trip, identifying winnable contests and the potential challenges posed by Edmonton’s star power. The duo dives into the Devils’ broader problems, notably their struggles with finishing and lack of true scoring talent, pointing to system issues and a mismatched roster as underlying causes. The final segments delve into what it would take to “fix” the Devils. Alex Chauvancy argues that while the roster needs tweaks—such as adding a proven scorer and a puck-moving defenseman—the core of young talent is still promising. They discuss possible trades, who the team could realistically move on defense, and ponder ideal targets for a third-line center to upgrade the forward depth. Ultimately, both agree that the team’s main stars remain worth building around but recommend the front office address roster composition and age to recapture success, closing with some light-hearted anecdotes and optimism for future episodes. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.