The New Jersey Devils did not make that huge trade to upgrade the top six. Jason Robertson figured out his contract with the Dallas Stars for one more season, and Matthew Knies probably was never actually available. Dylan Larkin is still “available,” but not to the Devils. Alex DeBrincat probably isn’t available to New Jersey, either.
The Devils did add Anthony Mantha to the roster. Coming off a 33-goal season, he should fit nicely into the top six. Whether he fits next to Nico Hischier or Jack Hughes is yet to be seen, but Mantha is the Devils’ biggest pickup of the offseason so far.
That leaves one spot open in the top six, assuming Sheldon Keefe doesn’t use Mantha as complimentary scoring in the bottom six. There will be fierce competition to get that spot. Last season, Connor Brown finished the season alongside Jack Hughes, and they were great together. Brown-Hughes-Bratt finished the season with 240 minutes of 5v5 ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick.
In those minutes, they had essentially 56% of the offensive chances, 54% of the expected goals, and 52% of the high-danger chances.
Gritsyuk and Hughes were as good analytically, but their counting statistics were better. With both of them on the ice, which accounted for 142 minutes of ice time, their line scored eight goals while allowing just five.
And Gristyuk is clearly the player who has the best chance to break out this season.
Arseny Gritsyuk could become a star with the Devils this season
Last season, Gritsyuk had 13 goals and 31 points in 66 games last season. It was a rough rookie season that included an injury and some offensive volatility, but there was so much to love about how he played. He took 149 shots, more than two per game, despite inconsistent lineup placement.
He shot less than nine percent on those shots. In the KHL, Gritsyuk shot between 10 and 11 percent. If his shooting percentage was 10.5% last season, he would have had 16 goals. With 16 games missed, this would at least have been an acceptable result.
The Devils theoretically want Gritsyuk to pass the 20-goal threshold this season. He’s already mastered how to be effective defensively, which is what most people thought would be hardest for him. With that coming so naturally to him, he can focus on opening up his offensive game.
Whether he’s paired with Hughes or Cody Glass on the third line, Gritsyuk has all the elements needed to be the Devils’ breakout star this season. What’s his ceiling? With the right support around him, he could be a 30-goal scorer, but that is with everything going right and no injury to speak of.
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