This story is part of ESPN The Magazine's Oct. 12 Owners Issue. Subscribe today!
New Jersey Devils
Overall: 74
Title track: 25
Ownership: 81
Coaching: 104
Players: 79
Fan relations: 73
Affordability: 83
Stadium experience: 75
Bang for the buck: 77
Change from last year: -27
The Devils reached their fifth Stanley Cup final in 16 seasons just three years ago, but forgive fans for feeling as if that 2012 defeat to the Kings happened during a different era altogether. In many ways, it did. The stars of that team -- Zach Parise, Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Brodeur -- were all gone before the 2014-15 season began. They've been followed out the door since by captain Bryce Salvador, who recently announced his retirement. But the biggest blow for the Devils came off the ice when Lou Lamoriello, the only general manager the 28-year-old franchise had ever known, shocked the hockey world this offseason by stepping down to take the same role with the Maple Leafs. That loss is reflected in these rankings with New Jersey -- which won three Cups on Lamoriello's watch -- plummeting 27 spots overall.
What's good
One of the two categories in which the Devils didn't suffer a double-digit drop was title track. But the rebuilding franchise, which has always prized defense first, boasts promising young blueliner Adam Larsson and goaltender Corey Schneider, who might prove a worthy successor to the legendary Brodeur. New Jersey actually improved by one place in bang for the buck with the overall fan cost at just over $77 -- 64 percent cheaper than the New York Rangers, Jersey's closest geographical rival.
What's bad
The fan experience at Newark's 8-year-old Prudential Center was a bright spot a year ago, but satisfaction has gone south since, falling from 40th overall last summer to 75th entering 2015-16. One reason for that may be fan relations, which is now 73rd after ranking 26th among all teams a year ago. Mending fences with the die-hards will be as important to new GM Ray Shero as fixing the team. But after replacing the iconic Lamoriello -- whose ability to get the small-market Devils consistently punching above their weight inspired the popular fan blog In Lou We Trust -- winning over the locals might prove harder than winning games at the Rock.
What's new
First off, the Devils have a head coach (John Hynes, the youngest coach in the NHL) for the first time this calendar year. After Pete DeBoer was canned in December, Lamoriello, Adam Oates and three-time Cup-winning captain Scott Stevens shared responsibilities behind the bench. Not surprisingly, this awkward arrangement didn't produce the desired turnaround -- the Devils missed the playoffs for the third consecutive season -- and it also caused their coaching rank to fall an incredible 97 places from No. 7 last September to 104th this year.
Next: New York Rangers | Full rankings