Paul Cotter recently broke a New Jersey Devils record for physicality

The New Jersey Devils picked up a big win on Saturday when they defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-2 at Xcel Energy Center. With seven games remaining, the Devils' playoff odds have increased to 99.3% according to Money Puck. Barring a meltdown, fans should anticipate playoff hockey to be played at The Rock.

Ever since the Christmas break, the Devils have endured a rollercoaster experience. However, there are a few positives, including Jesper Bratt breaking Scott Stevens's single-season assists record on March 22. However, another player also broke a record recently, but nobody has given it any attention. Paul Cotter currently has 232 hits, which is a Devils record for most hits in a single season. The previous record holder was Blake Coleman, who had 225 hits during the 2018-19 season. It's worth mentioning that Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Stefan Noesen are the only players that remain from that team.

Assesing Paul Cotter's season

Cotter was acquired by the Devils last summer in a deal that saw Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid sent to the Vegas Golden Knights. Holtz is a former first-round selection, and Schmid helped propel the Devils past the first round in the 2023 playoffs. Some people were initially perplexed with the trade, but it seems Tom Fitzgerald made a good deal. Cotter's had an interesting first year with the Devils. At the beginning of the season, he was scoring at a premium and was even a point-per-game player at one point. Unfortunately, as the season has progressed, his point production has become sporadic. He had a rough stretch where he didn't have a single point between November 12 and December 19.

His struggles later led him to be scratched against the Philadelphia Flyers on March 9th. It seems to have motivated him because he has scored three goals since then.

Cotter's one consistent trait this season has been his ability to rack up hits. Even though he's not a prolific scorer, his willingness to throw his weight around makes him valuable. He's not a one-dimensional player like Holtz. Aside from scoring, Holtz struggled to contribute in other areas, which made it easier for then-head coach Lindy Ruff to bench him. Even though people might have mixed feelings toward Fitzgerald, it's safe to assume that nobody misses Holtz or Schmid. In addition to his record-setting hits, Cotter currently has 16 goals, which isn't bad for the bottom-six player.