The New Jersey Devils were third in points in the NHL in 2022-23. They reached the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. In August, Bleacher Report listed the Devils as a top three contender for the Stanley Cup, utilizing updated odds from DraftKings. They are expected to compete for the top spot in the Metropolitan Division standings in 2023-24.
Yet, many analysts and fans are discrediting the Devils. During the offseason, social media discourse has been filled with seeds of doubt. The 2022-23 Devils were a fluke. The Devils are overrated. They will regress. They have no defense. Goaltending is a problem. Blah blah blah. This is just some of the chatter on social media.
The 2022-23 Devils were no fluke. They just arrived ahead of schedule and exceeded expectations. The Devils are loaded with talent, and last year, the talent showed up.
Last season was a huge breakout year for Jack Hughes. He’s now the franchise single-season points leader (99), on top of scoring 43 goals in the regular season. Dynamic two-way center Nico Hischier put up an 80-point season and was a candidate for the Selke Trophy. Hischier and Jesper Bratt both reached the 30-goal mark. Dawson Mercer’s sophomore season consisted of 27 goals, a hat trick, an eight-game goal streak, and a twelve-game point streak.
Vitek Vanecek became the first Devils goalie since Martin Brodeur to earn 30 wins in a regular season. Dougie Hamilton was second in goals scored and fourth in points by NHL defensemen. John Marino emerged as a shutdown defenseman in his first season with the Devils. This roster is not overrated.
Will the team regress? Not likely, considering most of the same talent will return, and general manager Tom Fitzgerald’s offseason moves made the team stronger. Fitzgerald locked up Bratt and Timo Meier for eight years. Meier scored 40 goals last season, the last nine with the Devils.
Tyler Toffoli was acquired in an offseason trade that sent Yegor Sharangovich to Calgary. Toffoli scored 34 goals last year. The Devils lost 20-goal scorer Tomas Tatar, but they let him walk in free agency because they didn’t have room for him with the strong group of forwards they have.
Plus, there’s more talent on the way up. The Devils have two of the NHL’s top prospects, defensemen Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. Hughes will be an NHL regular this season, but with how strong the Devils’ roster is, Nemec will be fighting for a spot. Other notable prospects include Nolan Foote, Alexander Holtz, Graeme Clarke, Daniil Misyul, and Topias Vilen.
Offseason chatter has included worry about the defense due to the departures of Damon Severson and Ryan Graves. Luke Hughes will not replace Graves’ skill set. Instead, he could have a similar pairing with John Marino to what Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler have together: a prolific offensive defenseman and a strong defensive defenseman.
Luke Hughes might not be ready for top four minutes. Instead, Lindy Ruff could start the season with Hughes on the bottom pair. Will he make mistakes as a rookie? Absolutely, as any rookie does. There’s no need to panic if it takes time for Hughes to settle in. Besides, his playmaking will outshine defensive mistakes.
Marino and Siegenthaler are the Devils’ strongest defensive defensemen. Nobody expects Hamilton or Luke Hughes to be shutdown defensemen. That’s not their lane, and it doesn’t have to be. Hamilton does need to limit the mistakes, especially in the playoffs.
There are questions surrounding the rest of the defense. Will Kevin Bahl make significant strides? Can Colin Miller effectively replace Damon Severson? What role will Brendan Smith have? When will Simon Nemec make the leap into the NHL? There will be an adjustment period for the defense.
Goaltending is a concern following Vitek Vanecek’s poor playoff performance. However, he deserves another chance, especially considering it appears he ran out of steam after his first season with a number one goalie’s workload. That’s a fixable problem. Many fans hoped the Devils would trade for an elite goalie this offseason.
The Devils are rolling with Vanecek and likely Akira Schmid as their one-two for now. Schmid stepped up during the first round of the playoffs and showed he can handle the moment. The Devils signed Erik Kallgren to a two-way contract and recently brought back Keith Kinkaid for additional goaltending insurance. Prospect Nico Daws is recovering from hip surgery. If Vanecek can gain back trust, and Schmid continues to grow, New Jersey will be in good shape.
This year’s squad will prove last year’s Devils team was no fluke. There’s more pressure now, but the players will improve their game. The Devils are worth the buzz they’re receiving. Any of the hate they’re getting is fine, too. The noise will make them stronger.