With the NHL season now just a few weeks away, it’s time to look at what each team has done this summer and what to watch for in the year to come. Next up is a look at the New Jersey Devils.
Last Season: 44-29-9 record (77 points), fourth in the Metropolitan Division (lost in the first round of playoffs to Tampa Bay)
Remaining Cap Space: $18.16MM per CapFriendly (still need to re-sign F Miles Wood)
Key Additions: D Eric Gryba (free agent, Edmonton)
Key Subtractions: F Brian Gibbons (free agent, Anaheim), F Michael Grabner (free agent, Arizona), F Jimmy Hayes (free agent, Pittsburgh), F Patrick Maroon (free agent, St. Louis), D John Moore (free agent, Boston)
[Related: Devils Depth Chart From Roster Resource]
Player To Watch: F Nico Hischier – While winger Taylor Hall will garner most of the attention following his Hart Trophy campaign, Hischier’s progression in his sophomore year will go a long way towards making or breaking New Jersey’s fortunes this coming season. They’re counting on some of their younger players taking steps forward and the center is certainly at the center of that plan.
The top pick in 2017 held his own down the middle and it wasn’t very long before he was a focal point of their attack. With Kyle Palmieri missing 20 games due to injury, Hischier actually wound up finishing second on the Devils in scoring with 52 points.
Now with a year of experience under his belt, how will he fare in his sophomore campaign? While jumping to a point-per-game average may be too much to ask after one season, New Jersey will undoubtedly be hoping that he can get close to the production of a lot of number one pivots around the league (65-70 points). Expectations are certainly going to be high, especially since they’re coming off a playoff appearance.
Hischier will also be eligible to sign a contract extension in July and a strong showing would go a long way towards bolstering his case if the Devils decide to try to lock him up early. He has a lot to play for, that’s for sure.
Key Storyline: For the last two years, the Devils have tried to go after a prominent free agent, only to be rebuffed. Last summer was defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk and this past offseason was winger James van Riemsdyk but both opted to join a division rival instead. This is notable as their decision to stick with their current core wasn’t necessarily their ‘Plan A’ but rather a fall-back option.
It’s clear that there is a desire to add a core contributor to the roster. They have more than enough salary cap room to add any player around the league without having to match money; that type of flexibility will come in handy especially early in the year.
Will they be able to land the big fish they’ve been seeking? If so, they could really make things interesting in the division. If not, they’re going to be right on the borderline of the postseason.
Overall Outlook: New Jersey was one of the bigger surprises last season as not many were expecting them to make it to the playoffs. The majority of the core remains intact but they are going to be counting on internal growth to improve. Hischier should be counted on to take on a bigger chunk of the workload but how many others will? And will Hall pick up where he left off or take a step back? The answers to those questions will likely determine whether or not the Devils are playing come mid-April.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.