From East Coast to West Coast: Why I have abandoned the Devils for a Fresh Beginning

From East Coast to West Coast: Why I have abandoned the Devils for a Fresh Beginning

By Michael Foulks, Sports O’Clock Writing Team Member

Growing up in New Jersey for 15 years, it was an easy choice to follow the New Jersey Devils and their great players such as Martin Broduer, Patrick Elias, Zach Parise, Andy Greene, and Travis Zajac. But ever since the 2011-2012 season when the LA Kings slaughtered everyone in their way to the Stanley Cup, including a 4-2 series win over the Devils in the Finals, the Devils haven’t been the same.

They have made the playoffs just once, in 2018, which seems to be a fluke season rather than something of a promising future. From the top of the organization down to the bottom, the team is a joke. Cory Schneider should have never been allowed to play in goal, the team has lacked offense for years, and the defense... well a defense would be nice. They have young pieces and if they can get it together they can be successful in some capacity, but I do not see that happening. They will continue to be the joke of the Eastern Conference.

So for me, a person who was never a die-hard hockey fan and really enjoyed cheering for the Devils because of state pride, it is time to abandon them for a fresh beginning. The Devils will always have a special place in my heart, and I will root for their success when the time comes. But now, I am a Seattle Kraken fan for a few reasons listed below:

The Name and Logo: For a hockey team, the Seattle Kraken name is amazing. It is a perfect fit for the city and location of the state and proclaims toughness. When you hear the name "Seattle Kraken" you think “Woah, who are they??” The color scheme is perfect and on a marketing side of things, the sky's the limit on different marketing and advertising schemes. It is extremely attractive to not only hockey fans in Seattle, but for new fans searching for a team to root for.

The Jerseys: These are incredible home and away jerseys for a hockey team. Not only are the colors used in an effective and creative fashion, but it is such an appealing uniform to look at and to sell to fans. The merchandise for the team is also another amazing component which they have absolutely nailed and continue to reach out to new fans across the United States and Canada.

New Team/Fresh Start: The announcement of the Seattle Kraken could not have come at a better time for myself. As a casual fan who is unable unable to watch Devils games since moving away from New Jersey, this gives me an opportunity to start fresh with a completely new hockey team. Let's hope they start out with a great beginning like the Vegas Golden Knights, who made it to the Stanley Cup Finals in their inaugural 2017-2018 season.

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