5 New Jersey Devils players who will be MUCH better next season
By Nick Villano
Tomas Tatar
2023-24 Points: 24
Just seeing the points written on the page, boy did Tomas Tatar have an awful season away from New Jersey last year. He signed with the Colorado Avalanche after he was unable to get a long-term deal done with anyone in free agency. He reportedly turned down a two-year deal from the Devils, which turned out to be a mistake that cost him millions.
He failed with the Avalanche and was eventually traded to the Seattle Kraken. Tatar was much, much better in the Pacific Northwest than he was playing in the elevation. He had 15 points in 43 games. That’s nothing to get too excited about, but he had eight goals against just one goal in Colorado.
Tatar was fantastic in his second year in Jersey. He had 20 goals and 28 assists, playing all 82 games, most of which were next to Hischier. The Devils captain had his best season and secured second place in the Selke nomination behind a retiring Patrice Bergeron. He did that with Tatar next to him. Will Sheldon Keefe put Tatar with Hischier? We assume it will at least happen at some point this season.
Truthfully, Tatar is almost guaranteed to have a better season than last year. He just can’t completely fumble like he did in what was a humbling season.
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