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State of the Devils; Lineup Projections; Defensive Injections Highlights Makeover

The New Jersey Devils saw quite the makeover this summer that should result in a return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

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New Jersey Devils
Jan 16, 2023; San Jose, CA, USA; during home game vs New Jersey Devils at SAP Center. Photo: Hockey Shots/Dean Tait

There’s plenty of summer ahead, however, we’re not expecting much to change at this point. The New Jersey Devils still have some internal maintenance to take care of by way of restricted free agents. However, the team you see on paper is likely the one we get on October 4th when the puck drops in Prague to open the season.



There was a long checklist of items to address in the offseason and for the most part, the Devils’ needs were met due to some aggressive, superb work by General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. Mostly, the Devils GM wanted to strengthen their chances of keeping the puck out of their own net next season. He certainly increased their chances of making that happen.

Scoring was never the Devils’ problem, netting 3.22 goals per-game. It was keeping the puck out of their net that ultimately led to the regression in 2023-24, allowing 3.43 goals against per-game.

2023-24 record: 38-39-5, 81 points, seventh in the Metropolitan Division. Did not qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Devils Key Arrivals

Perhaps Fitzgerald’s best bit O’ business was securing head coach Sheldon Keefe behind the bench. The former Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss’ resume speaks for itself. There are concerns regarding postseason success, but there’s an argument to be made that he wasn’t equipped with the right roster to be put in a position to succeed. In five seasons, Keefe has yet to coach a season below a winning percentage of .622%.

Soon after the Stanley Cup was finally awarded, the Devils’ goaltending search finally ended. Jacob Markstrom was finally acquired and New Jersey now has one of the best tandems they’ve had in a long time with Jake Allen backing their new No.1. Markstrom was a top-10 goaltender in the NHL last season in terms of goals saved above expected (GSAx),  making 13.7 GSAx — ninth-best league-wide.

The Devils then acquired Paul Cotter in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights in a move that Fitzgerald claimed brought a little bit of Miles Wood back to New Jersey. Cotter ranked second on the Golden Knights in hits, throwing 233. In a separate deal with the Montreal Canadiens, Johnathan Kovacevic was acquired. The 6-foot-5, 223 lb 27-year-old defenseman scored six goals and 13 points and can move the puck well in transition.

After the 2024 NHL Draft, the Devils moved onto free agency. Brett Pesce inked a six-year, $5.5 million AAV deal with the Devils on July 1st as one of the many key Carolina Hurricanes to walk in free agency. Pesce had a down year in terms of the scoresheet, but the 30-year-old defenseman was brought in to help shut down the oppositions top players. Another was Stefan Noesen, who the Devils brought back to New Jersey on a three-year deal that carries a $2.75 million AAV. Noesen collected 14 goals and 37 points last season and will help in all three zones as a relentless forechecker.

The Devils GM also wanted to add a little bit of elbow grease, and did so by signing Brenden Dillon shortly after they inked Pesce. The 33-year-old defenseman threw 241 hits last season and isn’t afraid to scrap registering seven fights last season.

Fitzgerald later explained on July 3rd that after inking Tomas Tatar to a one-year contract, he’s finished scouring the open market. He deferred to the idea that if something came along from the outside, the Devils could be players in whatever that might be.

“Yeah, right now I am. Cap space-wise, we feel like we’re in a good place where we can stay flexible if something was to come down the road for us to be able to trade and get some assets or draft capital,” Fitzgerald explained. “We actually feel lucky and fortunate that if something was to come along, we could be in that game.”

After a slow start with the Colorado Avalanche, Tatar was traded to the Seattle Kraken and registered nine goals and 24 points in 70 games last season.

Devils Key Departures

In exchange for their No.1 goaltender, Kevin Bahl was dealt in a package to the Calgary Flames. The 6-foot-6 defenseman left much to be desired, throwing 151 hits in 82 games, playing smaller than his size would indicate.

With most of the core locked up, the Devils didn’t suffer any major loses. In exchange for Cotter, the Devils traded away both Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.

Holtz scored 16 goals and 28 points in 82 games this season and failed to live up to expectations as a former seventh overall pick. Schmid couldn’t maintain average play in the NHL and was demoted to the Utica Comets — where his struggles continued.

On the second day of the 2024 NHL Draft, the Devils traded defenseman John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club with the Pesce acquisition in mind. Marino lasted two seasons in New Jersey, scoring eight goals and 43 points across two seasons.

Center Tomas Nosek walked to the reigning Stanley Cup Champions in free agency, signing a one-year, league-minimum deal with the Florida Panthers. Injuries derailed most of his year last season, ending 2023-24 with two goals and six points in 36 games. Defenseman Brenden Smith inked a one-year deal with the Dallas Stars.

Devils Prospect Pipeline

Key promotions for Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec have been huge for the NHL lineup. However, the Devils’ prospect pool has dipped a bit, although drafting Anton Silayev certainly provided a boost. Regardless, the Devils have a few fringe players who are on the cusp of NHL minutes should the varsity roster need their services. Last season, goaltender Nico Daws was one of the silver linings, showing promise as a goalie of the future. He still needs some polish, but in the case of injury, he’s likely third on the depth chat. Santeri Hatakka is potentially the first blue line call up should New Jersey need a defenseman. The Finnish defenseman registered two helpers in 12 games last season and has 21 career NHL games under his belt between the Devils and San Jose Sharks. After Hatakka, top defense prospect Seamus Casey could make his NHL debut sometime in 2024-25. In the forward group, names such as Shane Bowers, Max Willman, and Adam Beckman could all see NHL minutes at some point next season.

Devils Needs

The Devils still need to lock in some of their restricted free agents. Most importantly, Dawson Mercer needs a new contract. That projects to be a decent raise. Daws and Nolan Foote need new contracts as well. Externally, the only thing the Devils might need — and will potentially target by the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline — is a top-six forward. After trading Tyler Toffoli in March, the Devils didn’t quite replace his goal scoring production, but hope someone like Mercer can take a step and fill his shoes.

Quotable

“We’re just trying to take one step at a time. We need to get [to the playoffs] first. Every game is a playoff game. That should be our mentality, to be ready for the playoffs. At the end of the day, we gotta get to it first. We have to play the right way, we’ve got to be committed and we’ve got to be connected. We have to be highly competitive, first and foremost. Then, we have to follow directions when it comes to the systems, we have to be trustworthy to one another.

“And I think now that we’ve created a more mature team, I think the older voices will help guide the younger guys to the right way to play. I think last year in hindsight would be the silver lining with these guys because they’re hungry. Our young players are hungry and they realize that they’re not getting younger, they’re getting older. Now is the time. So we start with not putting the cart before the horse. Have a great camp, great start to the season and just worry about today, versus worrying about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself. We’ll make the playoffs if we play the right way.” — General Manager Tom Fitzgerald

Devils Projected Lineup

Forwards

Tomas Tatar – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jesper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Timo Meier

Ondrej Palat – Erik Haula – Stefan Noesen

Nathan Bastian – Curtis Lazar – Paul Cotter

*Nolan Foote – Kurtis MacDermid

Defensemen

Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce

Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec

*Nick DeSimone/Johnathan Kovacevic

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom

Jake Allen

*Extras

This is a lineup that brings back shades of the 2022-23 season. For starters, you put the band back together with Tomas Tatar, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer. As a trio two seasons ago, that line produced an immaculate 65.48 xGF%, accruing an incredible 161-95 scoring chance differential in 267:18 of time on ice together at 5-on-5. Addressing the elephant in the room, there’s been a full year of hockey for Tatar playing elsewhere, so there’s a chance that magic doesn’t return. But hey, you won’t know until you try, and it seems like a good fit.

Admittedly, Timo Meier didn’t fair well with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt last season. However, his metrics with Hughes and Bratt were much better when he first arrived in New Jersey via trade in 2023. Perhaps under new tutelage in Keefe, Meier will have a better run with the the All-Star forwards who seemingly work incredibly together as a duo anyway. All three can drive play on their own, however, if they can figure out how to gel as a trio, they have the opportunity to become one of the best lines in the NHL.

As for the bottom-six, a line consisting of Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, and Stefan Noesen just sounds like a pain to play against. All three can forecheck well plus have some offensive upside. Finally, a fourth line with Nathan Bastian, Curtis Lazar, and Paul Cotter is reminiscent of the BMW line that was so effective in 2022-23. Perhaps, we’ll see it’s reincarnation.

On the blue line, there’s no surprises. Jonas Siegenthaler does his best work next to Dougie Hamilton who is 100% healthy and ready for next season already. Luke Hughes playing next to Brett Pesce is the right fit on the second pair, and having a defensive minded defenseman in Brenden Dillon next to the young Simon Nemec is certainly a good way to try and bring the best out of the 20-year-old phenom.

Shuffled Deck Chairs

Forwards

Ondrej Palat – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

Dawson Mercer – Jack Hughes – Timo Meier

Tomas Tatar – Erik Haula – Stefan Noesen

Nathan Bastian – Curtis Lazar – Paul Cotter

*Nolan Foote – Kurtis MacDermid

Defensemen

Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce

Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec

*Nick DeSimone – Johnathan Kovacevic

Goaltenders

Jacob Markstrom

Jake Allen

If the Tatar experiment doesn’t bring the magic it once used to, swapping him with Palat is a viable option. The veteran Czech forward has collected strong analytics with Hischier and Bratt as a line that can create plenty of offense while locking it down defensively.

That moves Mercer down with Hughes and Meier. Mercer as a strong two-way forward does bring a sense of balance to the playmaker in Hughes and power forward in Meier.

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