A brewing rivalry between the New Jersey Devils and the Columbus Blue Jackets just moved from the ice to the bench as their coaches stepped into the spotlight. The developing feud feels real after Monday night’s 5-3 Devils loss in New Jersey, where tension spilled beyond the boards and into the coaching rooms.
During the second period, in Brenden Dillon’s 1,000th NHL game, a skirmish unfolded that grabbed headlines. Blue Jackets forward Dmitri Voronkov appeared to surge toward Dillon before Dillon could even drop his gloves, leaving Dillon on the ice in a frightening moment that drew gasps from the crowd.
Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe was quick to critique Voronkov’s actions, saying, “Dillon would never do something like that to another player. I know that for certain. I don’t like it. I don’t think Dillon knows he’s in a fight until it happens, and he’s tackled from behind. Before he knows it, his helmet’s off, his jersey is over his head, and we saw what followed.” Keefe then spoke to Dillon’s character, praising him as one of the most honorable, hard-working players in the league.
In response, Blue Jackets head coach Dean Evason fired back on Wednesday, dismissing Keefe’s remarks as irrelevant to his team’s locker room culture.
Interestingly, the NHL’s Department of Player Safety chose not to assign any suspensions to either side. The only disciplinary action noted was Jonas Siegenthaler’s ejection for inadequately securing his fight strap.
The Devils and Blue Jackets are set to collide again on New Year’s Eve, with anticipation already building for an equally heated rematch. Players and coaches alike teased a high-intensity showdown, and some teammates publicly jabbed at the upcoming bout in social media posts and comments.
Thoughts about whether this rivalry will intensify or fade with time are sure to spark plenty of discussion among fans. Will the next meeting escalate further, or will both teams find a way to keep things competitive without crossing lines? Share your take on where this storyline is headed in the comments.
