New Jersey Devils: Projected Forward Lineup for 2023-24
As the Stanley Cup Playoffs are getting closer to an end, there are some players facing free agency that could return. Right now, the New Jersey Devils have just 12 players under contract. They need to get to 23 by opening night. So, let’s take a look at who we think will make the roster come October.
Cole Caufield’s 8-year, $62.8 million extension seems to be the benchmark for a player like Jesper Bratt in New Jersey. Speaking of which, let’s start off with the forwards. There are few guarantees when it comes to scorers. Let’s see who we think will play at each position.
Left Wing
Jesper Bratt
The elephant in the room is Jesper Bratt. Will his camp finally come to their senses and see there’s no reason to go to arbitration? We hope they look at Cole Caufield’s deal. Jesper Bratt and his camp will go somewhere in the four years and $7.25 million AAV range. Jesper Bratt finally breaks through in the NHL season and becomes the second of several Devils to make an All-Star game. Then, he finally breaks through as a goal scorer in the playoffs and helps propel the Devils through the second round.
Ivan Barbashev (Possible Free Agent Signing)
During free agency, the New Jersey Devils know that it’ll be harder to keep guys like Tomas Tatar around and need someone with more playoff experience. Ivan Barbashev is someone who knows what it takes to win a Stanley Cup. Per Evolving Hockey, he is projected for four years and $4.8 million per season. The 6’1, 195lb winger is a physical hitting sasquatch of a player during the regular season and raises it in the playoffs.
His hits per game are 2.17, and blocks 0.78 shots per game since joining Las Vegas. His SiD Rate (hits, blocks, and points per game) is 3.58 in the playoffs. 17 points in 19 games where his Sasquatch two-way play of 85 (hits, blocks, and points) in the playoffs is key to Vegas possibly winning the Cup. Barbashev’s two-way play is key in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Look forward to Tom Fitzgerald adding more physical veteran leadership to the lineup.
Erik Haula
The Finnish forward was very useful on both sides of the ice in the regular season, doing a lot of the dirty work for Jack Hughes. He lives in the dirty areas. He played a key role in helping play a stronger defensive game. Haula helped Hughes learn more about ironing out in the faceoff circle but is still a work in progress. In the playoffs, Haula took his game to another level. Haula has said that he wants to return and play in New Jersey and give his family some stability playing for a growing playoff-bound team.
Nolan Foote
The Devils have been very patient with the development of Nolan Foote’s game. Since coming over in the Blake Coleman deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning, his skating has improved a lot, and his shot on top of his size can be used from a power forward standpoint. He is only 22 years old and a former 27th-overall pick and would benefit from being under Lindy Ruff and Sergei Brylin in a very friendly run-and-gun style of hockey and would benefit from the familiar face in Coach Brylin.