from Larry Brooks of the New York Post,

When ownership becomes involved in hockey personnel decisions and its prime acquisition is presented as a social-media marketing vehicle, there is little time and little patience for slow starts.

This is the case in New Jersey, where the Josh Harris-David Blitzer combination at the top of the directory enthusiastically encouraged — how’s that for a euphemism? — general manager Ray Shero to pull off the deal for the Spirit of 76, who arrived with a boatload of charisma and as one half of a sports celebrity power couple with fiancée Lindsey Vonn.

There is PK Subban, there is first-overall draft selection Jack Hughes, and there is Taylor Hall, one of the league’s elite players who is a pending free agent and who certainly isn’t going to sign up for a program that doesn’t produce results.

Hall has been in the playoffs once since entering the NHL with the Oilers in 2010. The Devils have been to the playoffs once since 2012. Coach John Hynes has taken the team to the postseason once since taking over to start the 2015-16 season.

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