The top-six forward group is mostly set for the New Jersey Devils, though competition exists for complementary players on the wings.
We know that Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt will reunite on a line, as will Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. But, who will complete those trios? Dawson Mercer, Ondrej Palat, and Stefan Noesen will have to hold off newcomers Evgenii Dadonov and Arseniy Gritsyuk, and potentially Paul Cotter as well.
Gritsyuk, as the inexperienced 24-year-old rookie on a one-year, entry-level contract, might get preferential treatment, especially considering the hype around him. The talented Russian forward would love to play with Hughes or Hischier, but knows he needs to adapt and prove himself first.
"I don’t have any favorite hockey players — you already evaluate them from a professional point of view. I studied the composition of the team. Yes, there is Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier — center forwards from the top-six. I would like to get to them, but we’ll see how ready I am," Gritsyuk told TASS in a recent interview.
Arseniy Gritsyuk has high hopes for his rookie year with the New Jersey Devils
"Hughes skates well, Hischier is more of a two-way forward — he can also compete defensively. It is clear that Hughes is a superstar, and the game of the whole team is built around him so that there are results. Therefore, it will be harder with him on the line — you will do more work. But it doesn’t matter to me which of them is on the line."
Gritsyuk's fate will be less clear if he is to start the season on the third or fourth line; it's still unclear which players will be centering those units.
Mercer is a candidate to reprise that role after moving there last season, and Cody Glass showed himself capable after the NHL trade deadline. As for the fourth line, that could come down to newcomer Juho Lammikko and PTO additions Kevin Rooney and Luke Glendening.
The dominoes don't fall until Mercer's role is decided by Sheldon Keefe and Co. in training camp, but it's clear Gritsyuk has expectations and ambitions for his first NHL season. That should serve him well, especially if he does end up in the top six.