5 Bold Predictions For New Jersey Devils This Season

Andreas Johnsson Will Score 20 Goals

Andreas Johnsson feels like the forgotten forward on the New Jersey Devils. So much has happened since the Devils traded Joey Anderson to get the services of the former 20-goal scorer. He had one good season with the Maple Leafs but was suffering from injuries last season. The Leafs treated Johnsson as a luxury, and they let him go for a player that isn’t even on its roster.

Johnsson will start the season with Zacha. That’s not going to help his scoring, but once Hischier comes back into the lineup, he’ll have one of the best young centers in the league setting him up. Add in Bratt and his point per game, and Johnsson won’t even remember the linemates he had in Toronto.

Johnsson needs to stay healthy to even have a shot at this. He only had eight goals last season. He only played in 43 games, and about half those games he was dealing with injuries. The Leafs didn’t trade him because they didn’t think he was good. They traded him because they couldn’t afford his $3.4 million cap hit.

Everything points to a bounce-back year from Johnsson. If he scores 20 goals, that basically puts him at a 30-goal pace for a normal season. That’s exactly what the Devils are looking for.