Devils Look Poised for a Bounceback Season with Roster Additions 

"Do you think New Jersey's gonna be better?" I don't think I can emotionally handle them being _worse_

As long as the Devils don't go undefeated in preseason they should make the playoffs

Seeing how few players played 82 games... really puts into perspective just how decimated the Devil were by the injury bug last season.

People rightfully talk about Hamilton missing a lot of the season as a major reason they miss the playoffs. But having Jack Hughes also miss 20 games is not ideal. They need him fully healthy as well.

I’m eagerly anticipating the start of next season. Maybe this time I won’t step on another rake!

As a devil fan I'm super excited for this season. The upgrades and coaching got me hyped!

It was rough to watch this team fall apart last season but I think they made the right moves bulking up the defense and adding markstrom in net. Should be interesting to watch this fall. Keep up the great content❗️❗️

everyone wants to talk about the Devils they won July 1 the Devs made massive moves and necessary one noesen back is KEY

nasty roster, stanley cup contending for sure. they really just need to stay healthy

I think another for Timo lliving up to that cap hit is his turnaround at the end of last season. He was playing through 2 MCL injuries most of the year but looked really dominat to close the year as his skating got back to normal. Hopefully he comes back from the offseason at 100% given the mcl, oblique, and shoulder issues he played with last season.

New head coach Keefe also! I think this team has a major improvement over last season. Makes the playoffs and contends. Injury depth will be a factor, I believe Utica has provided good plug-ins when we've needed it. We have extra cap space even after Mercer re-signs. Things are looking up.

Nj will be a problem. Much improved team

I figure Hughes and Bratt had good chemistry beginning the season before Jack got injured, so I would expect them to start the season together.

Last year my dark horse prediction was NJD beating EDM for the cup. I looked like an idiot for half the season, then like half an idiot for the rest of the season. I am a Rangers fan and I must say this video highlights some excellent qualities in the Devils lineup. I hope they give NYR a run for the money in the regular season, it is a great rivalry.

Last year was a tax for what’s to come. The injury gods get their blood but now this team will roll for a decade

It will be interesting to see how Keefe shakes out the lines but I hope that he will use the Nico/Mercer/Tatar line that was so productive 2 years ago. Looking back it was silly to let Tatar go and maybe Fitz realized that with Dawson's down season. He really never stuck with any specific line last season and I think that limited his production. Hopefully they can rekindle some of that chemistry. The injuries will probably tell the story of the season. Cant lose that many man games to injury again.

I doubt they do it but they really should be running a Luke-Nemec pair. They CRUSHED their minutes together last year. They had a 61% xG together. People might think they overlap stylistically as 2 young offensive D but they go about their offense in different ways. Luke is the puck dominant creative force while Nemec plays a more reserved game and doesn't need the puck much. Nemec can be the compliment to Luke and we saw it worked last year. That's your top pair of the future. Let them grow together and learn together. You've also got the top 4 to shelter them more if neede (I really don't even think they need sheltering). This also opens you up to run a Dillon-Pesce shutdown pair and the 22/23 team thrived off of being able to run a Graves-Marino shutdown pair which opened up Dougie on the top pair as well as Sevo on the 3rd pair. You'd have that but even better this year with no Smith/Bahl on a 3rd pair and instead Luke-Nemec.

Thanks for the pick Shannon!!

Last off season, the Devils loaded up on offense. Everyone was saying they would be a hard team to stop. I disagreed. I said "we won 3 cups on a defense first strategy, not offense first. Our offense was fine Hughes broke Elias' record. Stopping the goals is where we fell short." Sure enough, that really showed this season. Our defense was crap. Our goaltending was horrendous, and sure enough, we got slaughtered. Plus, the injuries...Losing Hamilton was massive. In the 2022-23 season, Hamilton alone won so many games for us in OT...including game 3 of the playoffs. This season was absolutely cursed. My hopes were so high, and never been more disappointed. So...I am not getting my hopes up for next season....no expectations, no let downs.

Let's Go!!!

Let’s just say Gosh I hope there better and not worse!! That’s from a life devils fan!

Still missing a bigger winger to play in the top 6 line with Hughes

I was a bit skeptical when it was clear Fitz wanted size but it seems like he got big guys that can also play

The Devils are tougher to play against now. They're deeper, still young and talented, should be more physical, bigger and better in net too. It's a team that should be good at everything, though maybe not the best at anything, well balanced enough to play with any team. I'd guess they'll add a top 6 winger towards the deadline to round the roster out, now they just need to stay relatively healthy.

New coach, new D, new goaltending, more size, and Hamilton back. They can definitely challenge for the division. Props to you for pronouncing Haula correctly; Devil announcers don’t even do that. LGD! (I think they’ll regret trading Holtz)

I follow the team closely and this looks like easily a top-3 team in the Metro and I'm even willing to go as far as saying that they have a very good shot at first place. I'm thrilled enough about them to make a case for that here. Both the Canes and Rangers look like they might take a step back, but pick these three teams in any order and you'll get zero argument from me. All three of these teams are a big step ahead of the other 5 teams in the division and will be battling for an easier first round opponent and home ice advantage in the playoffs when one almost inevitably faces the other in round 1. Devils are stacked everywhere except maybe a top-6 winger or two. The missing wingers won't likely matter much if both Jack and Dougie return to form from surgery and it is possible that Dawson Mercer takes a step up into top-6 quality play. Before Jack suffered one of two injuries last season, he was on a tare and led the NHL in scoring by a wide early season margin. Meier also had his production limited by injury recovery but went on a tare at the end of last season. The blueline is stacked enough to give Luke and Nemec sheltered 5 on 5 minutes. Both look to be future stars, but Luke in particular had pronounced problems defensively playing an insane level of minutes due to lots of injuries on the left side of the blueline. . Markstrom was a top-5 goalie in the league last season based on advanced stats and most experts have said that he played amazing in Calgary behind a gutted defense as they tore the team down. Allen is as solid a veteran backup as there is. Their bottom-6, notably uninspiring last season, has added a great deal of sandpaper in Noesen and Cotter. Fitz may have overpaid for Cotter giving up a potential top-6 prospect in Holtz and Akira Schmid, a goalie who showed some flashes of NHL ability at a young age. Fitz has emphasized that he thinks Cotter has some big offensive upside that was not realized playing on Vegas's fourth line. The Canes lost quite a few players but are so well coached and should not have the same setbacks in net that they did last season. I won't argue with anyone still picking them for first place. The Rangers have a slowly aging top-6. Panarin may not be able to produce another season like last year. Something was wrong with Trouba's defensive play as the season progressed and they could not trade him to free up cap space. Again, won't argue with anyone picking them ahead of the Devils two hard, LaFraniere came into his own at the end of last season and could easily pick up any drops in production from their aging top-6 vets. Even if Trouba's play has truly declined as much as it looked at times, they do have a deep blueline and are well coached. I think that a top-3 finish in the Metro is very certain and lean towards them finishing in first place.

Love to see these team videos. I just wish the Vegas video wasn't about the gm being aggressive and was about the team and the players they have

THG! THG! THG!

Im pulling for my Devs. Been rough ever sicne highschool for the team. But we're getting there. Just gotta hope everytbing weve done these last 6 years doesnt just amount to nothing.

This team *NEEDS* to stay healthy this year, part of the reason they're so injury prone is that they lack physicality and are just getting abused out there by other teams.

KAHKONEN SHOULDVE BEEN MARKSTROMS BACKUP

Shannon,...seriously dude -- where did you get that cool Devils hat ?

I think they will improve but it won't be immediate. A whole new blue line means learning to gel together and that will take time. The biggest issue will be health for the team, and getting Ondre Palat up to par with the rest of the crew. He has to step it up this year

Juggling the ice time amongst the D corps is going to be tricky. Lots of talent and only a limited amount of time to go around.

This team will hinge on Nemec and Luke's ability (or inability) to take big steps forward defensively this season. Their offensive games are not the concern, they'll continue to do well in that aspect. Markstrom and Allen should give them average/slightly above average 'tending. The differential should be better overall, but time will tell if the new additions help NJ win games when the run & gun transition is blocked by every team playing 1-3-1 against them like last year. Playoffs this year, but we'll have to see how it gels if they want win a round or two. Big improvement, but with some flaws that require time/young player growth to fix imo. LGD

let’s gooooo I love my team 😈

2:25 THE CHAMP

Meier will score 50 this year. His low end is 40. Almost all of his goals came in the last 30 games because he had a Double MCL and back issues early. Nemec > Pesce, and I’m praying that Macdermid doesn’t play 5 games for the team. He wouldn’t be a top6 player in the AHL

There was a lack of will, motivation and urgency last season with this team. I believe they were the #1 team in allowing the first goal in the NHL. If they are as complacent this year, then there is a bigger problem in that dressing room. One major thing you disnt mention is the new coach of Sheldon Keefe.

Stanley cup champs 2025

I thought Foote would be penciled into the top 12 somewhere.

10:25 Time to win a cup boys

you forgot about the new coach

It looks like a really solid team now and the glaring issues in the squad makeup seems to have been addressed pretty well. It looks like one of the better fourth lines in the league now too.

Coukd tou do a video on the best "on paper" teams to not get a cup? Like the rangers the last few years for example

They'll need to gel quickly and have a great start. On paper, things look better.

I'm excited for next season. I am curious how Chief Keefe is gonna handle them. Just hope they keep injuries on the low end...that killed us early on and we never really recovered. Pretty sure Jack played injured for a while there.

There's just no way they're not better right?

they will LGD 👹💪🏽

I remember at the beginning of last season, my main issue with the Devils was primarily the goaltending, and then the inexperienced defense. Then when I watched as the season go by, the biggest issue for me was the STRONG lack of toughness. They easily got pushed around. We lost Miles Wood and Tomas Tater (I know he's not really a fighter, but he would stand up for his teammates) last season. I saw Michael McCleod started to drop the gloves and get involved, then he left for the sexual allegations in 2018. After that, nobody could really drop the gloves except for Brendan Smith, and he's not that good of a fighter. Then we got MacDermid and kept him for 3 years, along with Dillon and Noeson, all tough guys who can drop the gloves. I don't know too much about Cotter but I hear he can play tough too. 2 great goaltenders as well, Markstrom and Allen. I do question the Holtz/Schmid trade somewhat, but overall I'm pumped for this season. And one thing I'd like to say about Palat, he might've not gotten a lot of points last season, but he was leading very well and helping out on the offensive line big time!

Let’s just say Gosh I hope there better and not worse!! That’s from a life devils fan! My top projection for this being my team and following would be making it to the Eastern Conference Finals this year.

Devils will be better. Jump above Carolina and fight the rangers for top spot

I could see them get the Pres.

They're gonna end up breaking the franchise record they had just set two years ago and will have a strong run in the playoffs.

Keefe is too good of a coach not the get this team into gear

i think itll be palat/Tatar Nico Meier. Bratt with Jack. Devils have to cut ties with beckman and foote

The Devils begin their season in the Czech Republic against the Sabres so good luck to both New Jersey & Buffalo and as a Stars fan we have the Defending Cup Champions in Finland so Dallas vs Florida very excited for that matchup

The Devils are a playoff Team for sure, would love a LW who can play with Jack and add some muscle and grit to his line….(Crouse you out there? ).

Cup.

I think Sheldon Keefe will keep his high regular season winning percentage streak going and this team will easily fight for the top spot in the metro. The addition of Markstrom alone makes us way better off than last year. Add in the top talent at the blue line and we have ourselves a team

I would buy out Palat or retain salary to trade him. No telling what will happen until we get to the end of October. Lots of new guys and we know a lot about Markstrom except how he will play behind our D.

Really just comes down to health but good teams need to still play well with key injuries. Hopefully devs learned something last season and everyone can stay healthy. Definitely playoff bound is so

Just to add, siege had the most hits on the team last year

As a Devils fan, I really like this roster compared to last season. I almost feel bad for Lindy Ruff because when you look at last season’s defense to what it looks like now, it’s night and day. Clearly Sheldon Keefe and Fitzgerald and Co. stressed the importance of veteran defensemen as both Kevin Bahl and John Marino were unable to step up when the injuries hit last season. Meier - Hischier - Bratt Tatar - Hughes - Mercer Palat - Haula - Noesen Foote - Lazar - Cotter MacDermid Bastian Siegenthaler - Hamilton Hughes - Pesce Dillon - Nemec Kovacevic Markstrom Allen

LGD. Please 🙏

They will make the playoffs with the upgrades they have made.

I think it may take about 10-20 games before they start gel'ing .. so many new faces, new coach (and new system?). Def gonna be a lot of miscommunications in the beginning but by midseason I think they take off

Jack, Nico, Dougie and Timo need to stay healthy to make the playoffs and win a Championship. We see what happens when they don't stay healthy.

My wife a die-hard devils fan! Been watching very closely especially the last 4 years. They're on the path. They're going to be a legitimate threat the next 3-4 seasons. Biggest question mark I have is the playoffs. They are obviously a heavy speed/offense focused playstyle. Not so sure that can break thru to the later rounds. Obviously Florida's style, but even Edmonton made it as deep as they did NOT on the high-flying offense They're known for really. Dunno. Just know I'm excited for the next few years as the last few have been a blast to watch! Overall success or not!

If they stay healthy, they will make it further than the leafs… And remember what happened the last time the leafs sent one of their coaches to New Jersey!

I don't know that I love Allen. Daws was an absolute dog for us in the 21-22 season. I think he had 9 consecutive starts or something insane like that in a season he only had 23 starts as a rookie. With an upgraded blue line I believe he is better than Jake Allen and deserves a future in Jersey. That's a resilient kid. He'll earn it no doubt

Top three probably top two if they stay healthy

Devils should be favorite to win Metro this year.

Been looking forward to this - thank you Shannon. now if you don't wanna pick the Devils to win the Cup two years in a row that would be just fine. Cap tip as usual ...

Their goaltending should improve.

Watch NJ win 55-60 games in the regular season and lose in the first round because Keefe gets outcoached yet again.

Also, in my mind the forward lines are exactly how you have them.

Chemistry will be a factor this season. Fitz made some good additions, but how well the team responds to Keefe will be key. Barring injuries, the Devils should make the playoffs…

I'm optimistic about The Devils but I don't see them getting further than second round if they get lucky

Really like what NJ has done. They were simply too soft and offensive minded, never understood what a lot of people saw in them coming into last season. Now the roster looks complete

Some of these comments are WILD.I'm not 💯 on banking on tatar's chemistry with the lads to improve his performance and palat needs to make numbers in the first half or he's gone at the deadline. However, it's generally looking up and im excited to see where we can go.

I wish they could find a way to get rid of that Palat contract. Other than that, the way I see it, almost everything that could've gone wrong last season did and I like the changes made in the offseason. It's hard to imagine them being any worse so I'm cautiously optimistic that they'll be a playoff team again

The Devils will definitely be better and make the playoffs. Getting Hamilton back and adding Pesce & Markstrom are great moves. Also I'm really interested to see how Keefe fairs being out of Toronto

I think the last season was eye-opening for some younger players that you get nothing for free in this league... Some players were starting to take some things for granted and "father-figured" Lindy didn't have the authority to step up... (he was too close to the players, my opinion) Now the kids got him fired, and they have a new coach, some experienced players added to blueline especially Dillon who I believe can have a big impact on Luke, Simon and Seamus Casey's defensive game and positioning. Not a big fan of this goaltending, but I hope that Daws can take as much as possible from such experienced guys and show he can be a true starter in the NHL. * I think Palat and Tatar will end up on the same line... they provide that griding type of hockey, keeping the puck in the O-zone and then you can send your top line against tired opponents... also they played pretty well together. Also, I'm a big fan of Noesen's game and wouldn't be surprised seeing him on 2nd line with Jack.

Very injury prone roster - looks like they'll tear it up in the regular season, but they'll lose steam quickly with the physical game in the playoffs. Excited to see how they do, though

Hello from San Jose, California @The Hockey Guy. San Jose Sharks fan here, but I do watch all the games in the NHL season. My second team is the Florida Panthers. My third team is the Detroit Red Wings.

Palat and Mercer gotta step up and/or Fitzgerald needs to add a Top 6 winger asap. That Palat contract is an albatross.

@thehockeyguy. Do you think NJ should pursue askarov with picks and prospects? Let allen walk this year and have markstrom mentour him. Askarov the franchise goalie and number 1 after markys contract.

Don't see it. Don't see Keefe holding the Hughes brothers accountable when they play "me" hockey and there is still no true #1 defenseman. Have a feeling Markstrom is going to find out what Vitek went through last year.

No way Palat is on the second line. He’s been absolutely awful since he was acquired.

They should sign JVR. They have no big body to grind and park in front of net.

Although I like that they’ve gotten more physical, it still feels like their forward depth is a little underwhelming. While losing Yegor for Taffoli was kind of painful initially, it looks worse in hindsight

I think top 3 in metro possibly top in metro carolina got weaker and rangers didnt improve. Devils got bigger in needed areas and players with a edge. To mix with skill. Where last year too much skill and not enough size and edge players

Hey, I have an idea! Why doesn't NJ go for a rebuild?😃

They aren’t going anywhere with Fitzgerald as GM

6mil for markstrom + allen tandem is crazyyyyyy

Some projections have the Devils winning the division. I think that's ridiculous. They should be in the top 3 of the division though, and a lack of playoffs this year would lead to a very hot seat for Fitzy

I just don't know. Im definitely torn because ive been a die hard devils fan since i was 5 93/94, but i kinda wanna see Buffalo do better cuz fitz stayed and lindy got fired.

NJ is now a top five team in NHL with potential top three in NHL Jack doesn’t have trade or move clause trade him for Marner and picks now he has bad shoulder he won’t play more then 65 games

Palat is the most over valued player offensively in the league. Go look at his numbers. He’s hit 60 points and 20 goals once. Usually hovers around 45 points. He’s 33 and ain’t changing..