As we all know, the 2023-24 New Jersey Devils had little to no help in net, which finally got addressed with the additions of Jake Allen before the NHL Trade Deadline, and Jakob Markstrom, who came this offseason for Kevin Bahl and a 2025 top 10 protected 1st rounder. We know the Lou Lamoriello philosophy that GM Tom Fitzgerald did was build from the net out.
The Devils needed not only to fix the goaltending but also the roster. The goal was not just to get bigger, but that had to get edgier. We have been advocating for hits, blocked shots, and game-altering Neanderthal mannerisms. The addition of Brenden Dillon brings in 241 hits (12th in the NHL), and Paul Cotter had 233 hits (16th in the NHL).
The Devils added veterans to the defense, and if Jonas Siegenthaler can stay healthy and get back to his typical physical defensive game, he can potentially eclipse his all-time high of 101 hits in 80 games played from the 2022-23 season. Jonathan Kovacevic is another guy out there who replaces Kevin Bahl, who gets a few more blocked shots than he does hits but still strikes a near-perfect 3rd line pairing balance. If there is a need for a defender to rest, you always have Jonathan in your back pocket to fill in a role.
Daily Faceoff projects the Devils have a 4th line consisting of Paul Cotter, Curtis Lazar, and Nathan Bastian. That will likely be one of the most brutal forechecking heavy-hitter lines in the league. If you take the last seasons of those three players, they combine for 555 hits in 201 games played, which means an average of 2.76 hits per game. Stefan Noesen and Timo Meier bring a substantial level of physicality to the hits game but are nowhere near Brenden Dillon and Paul Cotter.
Teams who are not taking the New Jersey Devils seriously in the offensive zone teams will be on high alert next season. Just imagine when Paul Cotter goes up ice, hits Matt Rempe like he did with Matthew Tkachuk, and passes the puck to Lazar and rips to Simon Nemec for a mid-danger shot on net while Bastian gets to the crease for a greasy goal. That is the kind of tenacity that can change the outcome of each game and set the tone for the season. The offense for the Devils will benefit from that Sasquatch approach, while guys like Timo Meier, Ondrej Palat, Jack Hughes, and Nico Hischier can focus on finishing scoring drives.
The New Jersey Devils added a level of grit that will help them dominate games all season.
Defensively, with Brett Pesce around, he brings that higher blocked shots ratio to hits. Having Simon Nemec around Brett Pesce while he is here would be the perfect model player for him to learn more about being more positioned defensively and becoming clutch in the playoffs. Putting Brenden Dillon around a younger player in Jonas Siegenthaler, who plays a similar game but has lacked consistency, could help turn him around.
Tom Fitzgerald has made this team competitive and very tough going into the next season after a team with little to no goaltending and little physicality in 23-24. If that team can yield 81 points, do not be surprised if this team can eclipse 112 points in the regular season. Out of 164 points on the table, maybe gaining 115 points isn't beyond comprehension. With upgrades in Jakob Markstrom, Jake Allen, and Nico Daws, the Devils could realistically win 52 games. Another key to success is the defense sticking to the system. Coach Sheldon Keefe implies early and very frequently, and Keefe is a 100-plus point coach per season. The other part is the offense staying high-octane, potent, and getting the power play clicking under Keefe and company.