Thanks to a terrible season, the Devils won the draft lottery allowing them to pick first overall getting themselves a franchise player in Nico Hischier who should contribute right away. The offence improved over the summer but the defence is still one of the worst in the league. With good goaltending and more offensive production, the Devils should be a better team but it still won't be enough to get into the playoffs.
Arrivals/Departures
Arrivals: Marcus Johansson, Brian Boyle, Mirco Mueller, Brian Strait, Bracken Kearns
Departures: Michael Cammalleri, Jon Merrill, Devante Smith-Pelly, Jacob Josefson, Beau Bennett, Yohann Auvitu, Luke Gazdic, Seth Helgeson
Forwards:
Taylor Hall had a disappointing first year with the Devils as he only put up 20 goals and 53 points; as Hall gets more used to the system in New Jersey he should improve during his second season with the club. Adam Henrique has become a very consistent underrated player with the Devils as he will have to be the first-line center with Travis Zajac out 4-6 months. Henrique is more of a number-two center and not a number one as he does not put up enough points. Kyle Palmieri has fit in with the Devils perfectly during his two years producing 56 goals and 110 points as the first-line right winger. Travis Zajac has been a good center his entire 11 year career with the Devils as a two-way player who plays big minutes but with his recent injury he will miss at least four months to start the season. The big off season acquisition was Marcus Johansson as he comes over from the division rival Capitals to produce scoring on the top six after a career year. Pavel Zacha did not live up to expectations during his rookie season as he only scored eight goals in 70 games. Zacha will need to perform like the player he was when he was drafted 6th overall if he does not want to be talked about as a bust. Nico Hischier was drafted first overall this past June and with the injury to Zajac he will have to make a huge difference right away. Hischier was going to be a bottom-six forward but now he will be asked to play bigger minutes and contribute right away. The team also brought in Brian Boyle who is the perfect fourth-line center because of defence, experience and physicality. John Quenneville is another one of New Jersey's top prospects and he should make the roster after playing in 12 games last year putting up four points. Blake Speers started last season with the Devils but was sent down to the minors after only three games; he is one of the favourites to get one of the remaining forwards spots. Miles Wood will also get a spot after a rookie season where he put up 17 points in 60 games. The other forward spot will go to either Stefan Noesen, Joseph Blandisi or Nick Lappin.
Defenceman:
The defence may be the weakest in the NHL as they lack a superstar and the depth required to compete on defence. Andy Greene is the team's best defenceman but he is a defensive defenceman who struggles to score and would be better suited as the team's third or fourth defenceman. John Moore will probably be the other top-two defencemen alongside Greene but like Greene, Moore will have to play way more minutes than he is capable of. Damon Severson is the team's best young defender as he put up 31 points playing lots of minutes against some of the other team's best players. The teams defensive leader is Ben Lovejoy as he will help Severson grow as a player but Lovejoy struggles to produce points putting up seven playing in all the team's games. Dalton Prout is a physical player who is there to protect players like Hall and Hischier. Their other young defenceman is Mirco Mueller who was acquired from the Sharks during the expansion draft process after spending the last two seasons playing for the San Jose Barracuda of the AHL. Steven Santini will also compete for one of the defencemen spots.
Goaltending:
Cory Schneider had his worst season with the Devils last year as he went 20-27-11 posting a 0.908 SP% with a 2.82 GAA. If Schneider can return to his form from the year before, the Devils goaltending situation is a good one but if not they are only average at the position that needs to stand on its head for a playoff birth. Keith Kinkaid will once again backup Schneider after an OK season.
Projected Lineup:
Taylor Hall
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Adam Henrique
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Kyle Palmieri
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Pavel Zacha
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Travis Zajac
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Marcus Johansson
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John Quenneville
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Nico Hischier
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Blake Speers
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Miles Wood
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Brian Boyle
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Stefan Noesen
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Joseph Blandisi
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Michael McLeod
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Nick Lappin
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Andy Greene
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John Moore
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Damon Severson
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Ben Lovejoy
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Mirco Mueller
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Dalton Prout
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Karl Stollery
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Steven Santini
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Cory Schneider
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Keith Kinkaid
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Scott Wedgewood
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Top 10 Players:
10. John Moore
9. Damon Severson
8. Nico Hischier
7. Andy Greene
6. Marcus Johansson
5. Travis Zajac
4. Kyle Palmieri
3. Adam Henrique
2. Cory Schneider
1. Taylor Hall
Projected Finish: 78 Points (8th in Metropolitan)
Last Year: 70 Points (8th in Metropolitan)
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