5 bold predictions for New Jersey Devils 2024-25 season
The New Jersey Devils will have a lot going for and against them this season, as they instill a new head coach and a brand new system. With a lot of new faces, the bold predictions can get wild.
The New Jersey Devils are coming out of Prague with four points and a renewed sense of value to the franchise. As the entire hockey world paid attention to the Devils, as they were the only hockey that counted, they made easy work of Lindy Ruff and the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils won both games by a combined score of 7-2.
As we do each year, we try to get bold as we approach the first real stretch of the season. What could possibly happen this season?
Prediction #1: Jack Hughes scores 40 goals
Many analysts are predicting that Jack Hughes will score 100 points this season. It feels inevitable, so many will continue to predict that Hughes hits the century mark until he actually does it. Honestly, it's not a bad bet, but it's definitely not a bold one. Hughes was one point off 100 just two years ago, and if he stays healthy (a big if), it seems like it should be a formality.
However, not many are talking about "Jack Hughes: 40-goal scorer." It's pretty interesting since Hughes has hit 40 goals in a season already. He had 43 in 2022-23. However it looks like an outlier right now. That's also his only 30-goal season. Last year, he only had 27 goals.
Yet, this year has all the makings to be different. Hughes didn't score a goal against the Buffalo Sabres, but he did start to build chemistry with Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier, putting up two assists in Game 2. We're still on team "separate Hughes and Meier," but for now, we'll let it cook. And cook it will, because Hughes is going to score at will.
Some have pointed out that Hughes still looked tentative and afraid to get hit in those first two games, but we see that as early-season chemistry building. Hughes will get more aggressive as the season goes on.
Prediction #2: Paul Cotter will be on the first line by season's end
We’ve been on the Paul Cotter train for a long time. He’s played well with Mark Stone and William Karlsson. While he was playing on the Vegas Golden Knights bottom line at the end of last season, he’s had that role as the third guy on a great line. The Devils will likely use Cotter in that role at some point.
In two games, Cotter has two goals and an assist. According to Natural Stat Trick, Cotter was on the ice for seven high-danger chances and just two against at 5v5. He’s one of three players on the Devils to get multiple 5v5 points in the first two games. One of the others is Jack Hughes.
Again, Cotter has experience on these top lines. He’s done it at the highest level. This isn’t Nick Foligno and Philipp Kurashev playing 300 minutes with Connor Bedard because the Blackhawks have nothing on the roster. Coaches wanted to give Cotter that spot over players who are conceivably more talented.
Right now, Cotter is playing well on the fourth line with Curtis Lazar and Nathan Bastian, but give it some time. Sheldon Keefe isn’t the type of “line blender” coach we’re used to with Lindy Ruff, but he’s played guys up in the lineup that have surprised. This is how Auston Matthews ended up with Max Domi. This will be similar, and the Devils will finally have someone who can “protect” Jack Hughes, although we still have that low on the totem pole.
Prediction #3: We'll see another line brawl
The Devils showcased a little of that snarl they added this offseason. Cotter is on that list, but so is Stefan Noesen, Brett Pesce (who is still recovering from offseason surgery), and Johnathan Kovacevic. However, there is one player who is added that grit that comes with big hits. Brenden Dillon was an underrated add by the Devils. He showed his impact pretty quickly in the Global Series.
Dillon was drilling Sabres last week, and one hit even came in as borderline questionable. It was a clean hit on J.J. Peterka, but Dillon just held an unfortunate height difference. Dillon even tried to get down low to make the hit safe, but the hit was still violent.
Dillon only hit three people at 5v5, but they seemed to make an impact every time. He doesn’t need to go full speed into anyone. Those hits don’t need to be in the game. Now, someone just needs to tell Matt Rempe and Jacob Trouba.
The Rangers' worst of the worst are still there, and they will absolutely be in the lineup against the Devils. This rivalry doesn’t bring out the best in these two teams. The Devils also still have Kurtis MacDermid, who went after Rempe to cause a line brawl. We expect those tensions to continue, and we’ll see Line Brawl Part 3.
Prediction #4: Simon Nemec spends time in the AHL
Not all of these prediction are positive, but we feel like this one comes with a positive outcome. There are plenty of stories where a star player takes a little time in the AHL and says it was the best thing that ever happened to them. They use this time to re-evaluate their game and grow confidence against a lesser opponent.
Simon Nemec needs some confidence right now. Honestly, he might just need to get healthy. He suffered a shoulder injury in the summer, and it appears to still be impacting him. His numbers against the Buffalo Sabres were not good, as the rest of the team was lapping him in high-danger chances.
Nemec wasn’t terrible, but he wasn’t good, either. The Devils need good, and truthfully, they need great out of Nemec. A lot of what we believe this team can do is based on growth of both Nemec and Luke Hughes. Those two could turn into super-duper-star defenders this season, as they both survived their rookie season.
The real reason for Nemec spending some time in the minors is the absolute logjam happening on the NHL roster. We mentioned Luke Hughes, but he has to return from injury. The same goes for Brett Pesce, who should be back soon. Seamus Casey seems like the easy man to remove, but he’s played so well. There’s no way you take Johnathan Kovacevic out of the lineup after his Devils’ debut. Nemec might just become the odd-man out, but it won’t be a bad thing. It will be a learning experience.
Prediction #5: Ondrej Palat has his best season with Devils
The New Jersey Devils have not had their $6 million worth out of Ondrej Palat. They signed him to a massive contract after losing Johnny Gaudreau (rest in peace to the Jersey native) in free agency. In two seasons with New Jersey, Palat has been mostly ineffective, and he’s spent way too much time on injured reserve.
It’s clear those many runs with the Tampa Bay Lightning caught up to Palat, and the Devils were left to pay the tab. He put his all into those Tampa years, and now he’s paying the price.
However, something is different this season. Sheldon Keefe being on the bench is going to prove very fruitful for Palat and the Devils. He’s currently on the cusp of some big NHL milestones, including 500 points. He had to miss a game due to the birth of his child, but starting the season in Palat’s native land, and we think that and the Keefe addition hits at the same time, and we get the best out of him.
Keefe loves these times of players. Tom Fitzgerald already has a couple of grit-teethed monsters, but the Devils already had one with playoff experience. Palat will do very well, and this will be his best year of his Devils tenure.
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