Should New Jersey Devils Be Considered Stanley Cup Contenders in 2024?

The New Jersey Devils took a massive step forward in their process of establishing themselves as perennial Stanley Cup contenders, boasting the largest 82-game turnaround in NHL history last season and winning their first playoff series since 2012. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has since added a 34-goal scorer in Tyler Toffoli and veteran defensive depth in Colin Miller.

Respect for this young Devils team has been spreading rapidly across the hockey world, as major media outlets are beginning to discuss New Jersey as an early frontrunner to hoist the Stanley Cup in 2024. Most notably, ESPN’s ‘Way-Too-Early Power Rankings’ positioned the Devils right behind the reigning champion Vegas Golden Knights as the second-best team in the NHL going into next season. According to BetRivers, Jersey’s team shares the fourth-best odds to win it all in 2024. Have the Devils already arrived at the doorstep of hockey’s ultimate prize?

STAR PRODUCTION

The Stanley Cup, often referred to as the hardest trophy to win in all of sports, is heavily associated with the unpredictability and parity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nevertheless, Cup-winning teams share certain intangible qualities. Among them, star production stands out as one of the most vital.

Well, as long as Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Tyler Toffoli, and Dougie Hamilton can sustain their production from last season, the Devils should have at least six skaters who are producing at an elite level in the upcoming campaign — a number that is only going up with the continued growth of Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, and Alex Holtz as they cement themselves as pillars of the franchise.

DEFENSE WINS CHAMPIONSHIPS

One of the classic sayings in sports — and it’s proven to be true time and time again in the NHL.

Fortunately for the Devils, Dougie Hamilton is as much of an elite top-pair defenseman as you’ll find in the National Hockey League. The 29-year-old is coming off a career-high 74 points in 82 games, including a franchise-record 22 goals. He also led all NHL defensemen in shot attempts and scoring chances for the second consecutive healthy season (via Natural Stat Trick).

It doesn’t end with Hamilton, though. Two of hockey’s most highly touted defensive prospects, Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec, could join the Devils’ already formidable defensive core. This adds another layer of excitement for fans. With Hamilton anchoring a Devils blue line that features high-end shutdown talent in Jonas Siegenthaler and John Marino, breakout rookie seasons from Hughes and Nemec could have New Jersey witnessing the emergence of the league’s most dominant defensive unit by the start of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

IS THE GOALTENDING GOOD ENOUGH TO GET IT DONE?

While the Devils undoubtedly have the star power and defensive depth to make a run at the Cup next year, the most common question mark when discussing this team as a legitimate contender next season still lies between the pipes.

Vitek Vanecek had an exceptional first regular season in New Jersey, becoming the only goaltender in franchise history not named Martin Brodeur to record 30+ wins in a single season. His performance ultimately took a nosedive during the playoffs, however. Vanecek, 27, saw a career-high .911 regular season save percentage drop to a subpar .825 across seven post-season appearances, leaving 23-year-old rookie Akira Schmid to take over his crease.

Schmid’s dominance in the first round was eye-catching: he stopped 135 of the 142 shots he faced, delivering two shutouts and all four series wins in the process. The reality is that Schmid’s success came in a limited sample size. His young age and lack of experience leave him far from solidified as a starting goalie on a Cup contender. Vanecek’s playoff woes raise obvious doubts about his ability to be relied on game in and game out of a playoff run.

Amidst the uncertainty in net, a silver lining emerges through another notable trend in the league. This is evident in the recent success of the past two Stanley Cup-winning goalies, Adin Hill and Darcy Kuemper. Hill, who previously played for the Sharks, was brought in by the Golden Knights as their fourth-string goalie during the trade deadline before getting his chance when injuries piled up. Kuemper, on the other hand, was considered mediocre at best for the Colorado Avalanche during their 2022 playoff run.

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In essence, both of the past two Cup-winning teams were able to go all the way without relying on an elite number-one goaltender. The Devils are now in a position where just riding the hot hand of either Vanecek or Schmid come playoff time may be enough to win it all with the strength of the team in front of them, and that’s not to rule out the possibility of General Manager Tom Fitzgerald adding another goaltender before the puck drops for the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.