10 New Jersey Devils Bold Predictions for the 2024-25 Season

It’s bold predictions season. The New Jersey Devils’ 2024-25 might already be underway, and they may already be 2-0-0. Yet, we still know very little about the team they are going to be throughout the remainder of the season. We think they’re going to return to their 2022–23 selves. We believe they’re going to make the playoffs. Furthermore, we expect the Devils to compete for the Metropolitan Division title. Yet, in order for that to happen, a lot of things need to go right, and perhaps some unexpected things need to transpire.

We got a behind the scenes look at how Sheldon Keefe handles himself in the locker room during the Global Series. His message to the Devils after their season opening victory was to enjoy the moment, but quickly shift your focus to game No.2. There’s little doubt that Keefe’s message will remain that way all season, which certainly should contribute to a bounce-back year in New Jersey.

It’s a fun practice to make predictions before we’re in the thick of things by mid-season. And as a general rule of thumb, although some predictions might intertwine, others are its own and one doesn’t necessarily have anything to do with the other. In other words, I’m not naive to the fact that all of these predictions might not happen. After all, they’re bold for a reason.

With that, here are 10 bold predictions for the 2024-25 season:

Johnathan Kovacevic has Career Year

Thus far in his career, Johnathan Kovacevic has yet to really breakout on the scoresheet. Over the last two years in Montreal, the 6-foot-5 defenseman has scored 15 and 13 points respectively. However, in a much more offensively inclined Devils lineup, Kovacevic will have a career-year.

Right out of training camp, Kovacevic impressed with his skating, puck-handling, poise, and offensive touch. That translated to the first two games of the regular season, as he scored a big goal to insure the Devils’ lead in the first game of the season. He’s now collected two points in two games.

Kovacevic has proven he’s unafraid to jump up in the offense and handle it with confidence. This could be the year he collects 30-plus points and doubles his previous totals.

Paul Cotter Scores 25 Goals

Paul Cotter is already leading the NHL in both goals and points. Obviously there is a Hart Trophy candidate breaking out here.

We kid.

Seriously, though. Cotter appears to be a lot more than what the Vegas Golden Knights gave him credit for. Yes, he’s a physical forechecking menace who is going to make his opponents scoff in disdain every time he hits the ice. However, his abilities with the puck have never had a better opportunity to shine.

MORE: Devils Paul Cotter Impressing, More than Just ‘Meat & Potatoes’

Cotter has scored one empty-net goal, however, his second goal in game No.2 was a highly skilled play and certainly something that not all NHLers can do. He displayed soft hands faking out Devon Levi and popping the puck over his shoulder.

In short, it was filthy.

This season is Cotter’s coming out party, in which he scores 25 goals and establishes himself as a Tkachuk-lite type player.

Seamus Casey Competes in the Calder Trophy Race

How can you not be romantic about Seamus Casey?

The 20-year-old has defied the odds, solidified himself a spot on the opening night roster, traveled to Prague, made his NHL debut, scored his first NHL goal in a timely moment, earned a Rolex, and is projected to start in the home opener on Oct. 10th vs. the Toronto Maple Leafs.

MORE: Seamus Casey Makes Devils Roster, Confidence Builds with Coach Keefe’s Assurance

Casey has displayed everything you want to see in an up-and-coming rookie. He’s poised with the puck both on and off his stick. He plays bigger than his 5-foot-9 frame, and although he’s only played the Sabres thus far, he certainly looks like he belongs in the NHL lineup.

There are a lot of obstacles for Casey to overcome to stick in the Calder Trophy race. He’ll need to convince Keefe and GM Tom Fitzgerald not to make use of his waiver exemption. He’ll need to outplay the veterans to stay in the lineup. Finally, he’ll need to play up to the same level as Matvei Michkov, Macklin Celebrini, Cutter Gauthier, and an impressive pool of rookies in the NHL.

However, Casey’s camp, preseason, and first handful of games have been convincing. If he doesn’t win the Calder, he’ll be top-three.

Jacob Markstrom Re-Enters the Vezina Trophy Race

Is this prediction that bold?

Jacob Markstrom is playing behind a much stronger defense than he was with the Calgary Flames. Plus, he’s also behind a much stronger puck possession team, which should certainly cut down how many high-danger chances he needs to turn aside. And in the event he needs to meet a high-danger chance, he was the best in the NHL at stopping them in 2023-24.

Markstrom already dazzled and perhaps collected a save of the year candidate on the very first day of the season. A revitalized and motivated Markstrom can certainly reach new heights this season.

The 34-year-old netminder is only two seasons removed from being the runner-up in the Vezina Trophy race. On a top contending team, he’ll be right back in that mix.

Tomas Tatar Regains 50-Point Form

Tomas Tatar never scored 50 points with the Devils. However, he’s certainly done it before. Tatar has eclipsed 50 points three times in his career, and even collected 61 points in the 2019-20 season with Montreal.

READ: Tomas Tatar Ecstatic Returning to New Jersey Devils; Why He’ll Be Better

In the 2022-23 season, he had his best year with the Devils and collected 48 points on the second line with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer.

Despite last season’s regression, Tatar is back in New Jersey and slotted right back on the Hischier line with Mercer. The magic has seemingly returned with the trio of players as a line which is a threat on both ends of the ice.

Ecstatic to be back with the Devils and with a completely different start to the season than 2023-24, Tatar will return to the 50-point mark, or near it by the end of April.

Dawson Mercer Scores 75 Points

If Tatar is going to bounce-back, Dawson Mercer is also a candidate to do so.

Unlike Tatar, Mercer remained with the Devils last season and saw a regression, much like the rest of the team. Still, the 22-year-old forward was able to chip away at the goal column and pot 20 goals. That’s only seven fewer than he did in 2022-23.

Mercer’s a prime bounce-back candidate, and nearly scored 60 points two seasons ago. This season, back with the line mates who saw him have his most successful season, Mercer will collect 75 points as a top-six forward with the Devils.

Nico Hischier Wins the Selke

If both of Hischier’s line mates are going to bounce back, it will be because Hischier propels them there.

Hischier was the runner-up to Sasha Barkov in 2022-23 for the Selke Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s best defensive forward. He wasn’t quite as strong last season, but again, no one was.

Hischier will regain his defensive forward prowess and re-enter the Selke Trophy race while collecting 30 goals and nearing 80 points again.

Jack Hughes Becomes the First Devil to Eclipse 100 points

Jack Hughes didn’t come blazing out of the gate like he did last season in the first two games of 2024-25. However, it’s a marathon, not a sprint.

Hughes is fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery and was a full participant in training camp and preseason. Still, he didn’t have all that much time to build chemistry with the Devils’ first line due to the shortened training camp as New Jersey headed to Prague.

Regardless, Hughes will find his footing and break his previous career-high of 99 points, eclipsing the 100-point mark for the first time in his career and in Devils franchise history.

Timo Meier Scores 45-Plus Goals

There are no more excuses for Timo Meier to not succeed. He’s fully healthy. He’s settled in New Jersey. And he’s being put in a prime position next to Hughes and Jesper Bratt, plus on the first unit power play.

Meier needs to have his best season of his career this year. He’s the Devils’ highest paid forward and certainly will need to perform like it.

He’s already found the back of the net once in two games, assisted by both Bratt and Hughes. There will be more of that where it came from.

45 goals isn’t unrealistic, and dare we say he could even reach 50?

Devils Win the Metropolitan Division

The Devils are — once again — a trendy pick to see major success this season. Unlike last year, however, there’s real merit to why New Jersey is a popular favorite. The goaltending is vastly improved, as is the blue line, and offense has never been their problem. Their new head coach has never coached a season in the NHL where he wasn’t on pace for or reach a 100-point season.

Add in the fact that the Metropolitan Division had an uninspiring summer, sans the Devils, as a whole. The New York Rangers prove to be their biggest threat. The Carolina Hurricanes lost a lot of firepower. And the rest of the division is aging and middling.

There are no excuses for the Devils this season. They’re deep, skilled, and have the leadership to reverse their 2023–24 fortunes.

The Devils will be 2024-25 Metropolitan Division Champions.

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