New Jersey Devils

Amid Offensive Struggles, Devils GM Sends Message to Paul Cotter

Paul Cotter has 0 points in his last 14 games. That doesn’t matter, however, the Devils’ GM says.

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

New Jersey Devils center Paul Cotter reacts after scoring a goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Florida Panthers, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

NEWARK—New Jersey Devils forward Paul Cotter was shot out of a cannon to begin the 2024-25 season. Yet, Cotter’s offensive production has dipped since his hot start. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald noticed, and provided Cotter with some words of encouragement amid the Devils forward’s struggles.

The Devils acquired Cotter over the summer in a deal with the Vegas Golden Knights that sent former top draft pick Alexander Holtz and 2023 playoff hero Akira Schmid to Sin City.

The goal for the Devils was to become harder to play against. Fitzgerald wanted to acquire players who not only were defensively responsible, but weren’t afraid to throw the body.

Cotter fit the mold.

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However, after speaking with Fitzgerald following the Cotter acquisition, he felt Cotter had more to his game than just the forechecking prowess and physical mean streak.

“For us today and what we wanted to accomplish, adding a guy like Paul Cotter, who we believe has upside and has a little bit of Miles Wood in him, he can skate and is physical is what we wanted to do,” Fitzgerald explained over the summer.

The 25-year-old forward flashed that potential, scoring seven goals and 12 points through the Devils’ first 19 games.

However, since Nov. 14th, Cotter hasn’t collected a single point in New Jersey’s last 14 contests. Halfway through Cotter’s pointless streak, Fitzgerald spoke with him about his game.

“Well, I think he still plays to his identity. I believe he just hits up front. That’s first and foremost. His wave was pretty big at the start of the year. It’s not from a lack of chances or trying. It just happens,” Fitzgerald began to explain. “But we talked when we went out to Western Canada, my message to him was, just don’t forget who you are as a player. Everything else is great. I mean, I don’t care if he scores 10 or 12 goals this year. But be part of something bigger than you individually, and that’s being a hard team to play against. Be a big part of that. And he has been.”

Cotter’s role has been fluid this season. There have been moments he’s skated in the top-six. But, for the most part, he’s floated between the third and fourth line, primarily playing next to Erik Haula.

Over the last 14 games without a point, Cotter has certainly ensured himself as a factor on the ice, collecting 59 hits in that span—averaging about four hits a game.

Cotter isn’t just throwing aimless hits as a physical presence on the ice, however. He’s using his body to separate pucks from bodies in an effort to move the puck up the ice.

That’s supported by Cotter’s 53.54 xGF% and positive 186-176 scoring chance differential since Nov. 14th, according to Natural Stat Trick.

When analyzing Cotter’s hot start, he wasn’t shooting all that much more than he was in the first 19 games of the regular season. Cotter averaged roughly 1.3 shots per game through Nov. 12th while accruing seven goals in that span. The Devils forward was converting on a bloated 26.9 S%, which has gone ice-cold since.

How cold?

Well, Cotter is averaging 1.07 shots per game since, a miniscule regression, but it can’t get any lower than his 0.00 S% in that span.

Suffice to say, Cotter should be able to get the monkey off his back soon. He was never a volume shooter, but only found a bit of luck in timely moments through the first 19 games of the regular season. Yet, through the rest of 2024-25, Cotter should be able to chip in a bit more offensively once his shooting percentage averages out.

Regardless, Cotter has been an effective bottom-six presence for the Devils. He’s exactly the kind of player they were missing last season that made the Devils so hard to play against in 2022-23. He battles and grinds for pucks, and the opposition certainly hates seeing him on the other side of the ice, making him part of the bigger picture. Fitzgerald wants him to contribute, and Cotter has the right mentality to do so.

“It’s not cool to not try,” Cotter said. “Maybe some guys are like that. But I think that’s how it’s going to be with our team this year. It’s going to be cool to push each other and expect the best out of each other.”