The goal for the New Jersey Devils right now is to find sustained success and constant playoff contention. To achieve that, they need more than just stars like Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes to contribute. A critical part of their strategy lies in system-fit role players who can play under head coach Sheldon Keefe. The Devils hope they got two players who fit that mold in Arseni Gritsyuk and Juho Lammikko—two very different forwards brought in to serve specific, essential purposes in the Devils' high-speed, structure-focused system.
Gritsyuk, 24, enters the NHL as a highly skilled, pace-driven winger with excellent edgework, sharp zone entries, and a sneaky, efficient shot. He fits naturally into Keefe’s puck-possession system and thrives in quick transition schemes.
Over his first 2–3 seasons, Gritsyuk should solidify himself as a middle-six winger, scoring 40–55 points per year while adjusting to NHL pace and pressure.
Once fully acclimated, Gritsyuk projects to peak with a ceiling of 60–80-point seasons depending on deployment. His skating allows him to dictate tempo, while his improving shot and offensive reads make him a candidate for consistent power-play minutes. He’s not just a skill player—he’s a playoff weapon in waiting. In tight games, his speed and puck control can break through defensive shells, change momentum, and produce timely goals when stars are neutralized.
Long-term, Gritsyuk could be a 600-point career winger, capable of playing a top-six role into his early 30s before transitioning to a leadership and special-teams role.
At 27, Lammikko isn’t expected to light up the scoreboard. What he brings is structure, consistency, and playoff-ready discipline. Slotted in as a 4C or rotating 3C, Lammikko offers penalty kill excellence, defensive zone draws, and low-risk, high-IQ shifts. In Keefe and Shaw’s system, he can be a foundational piece on the PK and in late-game situations.
While his offensive output will remain modest—10–18 points each season—his value is measured in other ways: pressure relief, momentum control, and shift-by-shift reliability. Over the next 2–3 years, Lammikko projects as a key bottom-six asset before likely phasing into a depth or veteran utility role.
He may not be a Devil long-term, but he’s exactly the type of player teams lean on in the postseason: someone who keeps mistakes off the board and shortens opponents’ time and space.
Arseni Gritsyuk and Juho Lammikko give the Devils flexibility and balance when the postseason arrives.
Gritsyuk provides secondary scoring that can swing games when primary scorers are shut down. His zone entries, offensive creativity, and power-play contributions could be the difference in low-scoring playoff battles.
Lammikko gives the team a steadying presence. His faceoff work, PK time, and shutdown shifts help preserve leads and keep chaos in check, especially during tight third periods.
Together, they give Keefe a strategic advantage: plug-and-play roles that deepen the roster and allow for tailored matchups across any playoff series.
Final Thoughts
Gritsyuk and Lammikko aren’t flash signings—they’re strategic placements. One extends the Devils’ offensive upside deeper into the lineup; the other brings structure, discipline, and playoff reliability. In a league where depth decides series, they’re exactly the kind of players Sheldons Keefe and Brad Shaw can build trust in—and build wins with.
In playoff hockey, stars often cancel each other out—what wins are the players who execute their roles with discipline. That’s where Arseni Gritsyuk and Juho Lammikko matter most.
Gritsyuk brings dynamic, cost-efficient scoring upside, tailor-made for Keefe’s puck-control system. He doesn’t need to be taught how to play fast—he already thrives in transition. With structured coaching, he can become a 60–80 point winger who drives play without demanding spotlight minutes.
Lammikko, meanwhile, delivers what last year’s Devils lacked: a dependable bottom-six forward who brings clarity to penalty kills, faceoffs, and defensive matchups. He’s a low-risk, high-trust forward.
Together, they won’t dominate headlines—but they’ll stabilize lines, expand matchups, and give New Jersey playoff-layered depth. If Gritsyuk climbs and Lammikko holds firm, the Devils could quietly fix their balance—and position themselves for a deep run when it matters most.