For everyone that's been living under a rock, dig this... Let's be honest, the only thing that was not to like about Jason Kelce's slightly drunken, half coherent, and fully explicit ode to the odds that were overcome by the Eagles was that it was delivered in front of the city of Philadelphia. So, the fact that it was appropriated as an inspirational means to push the New Jersey Devils to the illustrious end they are somewhat miraculously in a strong position to battle for helps to dilute from the idea that the people of Philly don't deserve happiness. A speech that strong was in need of an audience that doesn't feed on the feces of farm animals, so I'm glad that it was finally able to benefit a dark horse instead of facilitating a fist fight with one. And let's be clear, the fact that John Hynes presented his players with a video of an inebriated football player wearing his heart on his sleeve, a chip on his shoulder, and a brewery on his breath while pushing the "us against the world" mantra is proof that he has his finger on the pulse of what makes this young team tick. You'd have to some type of curmudgeon not to be prepped for wall-running duties after listening to Jason Kelce belt out "NO ONE LIKE US, WE DON'T CARE!", and the Devils can't even go see an R-rated movie without three of their top five scorers getting carded, never mind being old enough to have a pessimistic view on life. There's a reason the 'New Jersey Devils Vs. Everybody' schtick worked, and it's not because there's even a sniff of doubt in that locker room as to whether they are all in this thing together. Simply put, John Hynes gets it, and that should really go without saying since you absolutely cannot praise a Devils team that is successful beyond its years without also acknowledging their coaching. Whatever you may think about him, Hynesy has the eyes and ears of the entire room. Considering the wide range of ages, backgrounds, and professional trajectories of a team that is merely a year removed from being an abject disaster, demanding attention and - more importantly - respect is no small feat. From the most encouraging of victories to the most dispiriting of defeats, the one thing you can't say about this Devils team is that they have lacked effort. What you see on the ice is a direct reflection of what's been facilitated off the ice, and what we've seen on the ice is a cohesive unit that - win or lose - consistently sticks to a system that's allowed for a superstar to be born, rookies to flourish, young players to come into their own, and fringe NHLers to carve out necessary niches for themselves in the lineup. It's no coincidence that the vast majority of a rebuilt roster is playing the best hockey of their respective careers. So say what you want about the influx of talent, but not without crediting the man who has both maximized it and motivated it...
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