TUFHL Portal

A Sit Down With A Devil

An interview with Devils GM Alex

6/11/2026 • Wes Mucyk

Hello hockey fans and welcome as we have a special treat for you. We're in New Jersey just hours away from puck drop ahead of game 6 of the TUFHL Stanley Cup Finals where the New Jersey Devils find themselves up in the series 3-2. Prior to the start of this series Fanduel had the Colorado Avalanche as the betting favorite. I'm priviledged to be sitting here with the New Jersey Devils GM Alex Devils.

Wow! What a turn around. Heading into the season did you have any idea that your team would be capable of playing the way it has? Were playoffs even a thought in your mind?

Once I went all in on Mackinnon and Tavares it was a turning point, from rebuild to contend. Adding Vasi after that meant we needed a few more depth players but I thought we'd be lower in the playoff standings.

When you look back at the start of this season, at what point did you genuinely believe this team could be here?

When my goalies kept putting up shutouts at record pace. The defense was good but the goalies were carrying the team no question

Was there a particular move, or point in the season in which you were like, yeah, we're going for it?

Mackinnon for Celebrini and Michkov. No coming back from a gamble like that!

What's your message to the group heading into Game 6 with a chance to clinch?

Keep playing our game. Keep it simple and let the leaders lead. We are here for a reason, don't worry yourselves with the roster on the other side. We know they are good but so are we.

Andre Vasilevsky has been exceptional—what have you seen from him in these playoffs that maybe the public hasn't?

He's a good mentor and leader. Goalies have reputations as being out of control mentally but you will not find a more calm, cool, and collected individual in this league.

How have you used the underdog label inside the room—fuel, or something you've tried to tune out?

We are just trying to play our game. We are professionals, worrying about what is not in our control is a waste of energy we can focus on our own game.

As a GM, what's more satisfying right now: proving the experts wrong, or being able to save all those preseason prediction screenshots?"

Personally I cannot answer this until after the playoffs. If we lose, we didn't achieve our goal. If we win, I bet we all will feel justified in our decisions.

Do you have any weird pre-game superstitions or rituals?

Drink a beer and eat a steak. I bet the players are more interesting.

If I gave you an empty salary cap and absolutely zero restrictions on the trade deadline, would you acquire a time machine to build the ultimate 1985 roster, or just sign five more $10 million power forwards?"

I love power forwards more than just about anything so I would take 5 of those.

Well that's great stuff Mr.Alex, thanks for taking the time to chat with us and good luck the rest of the way.