Ranking the New Jersey Devils forwards from worst to first for the 2024-25 season
11 - Paul Cotter
Bringing in Paul Cotter was one of a few moves I was glad to see Tom Fitzgerald make this summer. He’s one of a few new faces who won’t spend time with some of the top-ranked forwards on this list, but Cotter will give the Devils quality shifts every time he skates onto the ice, and he will be looking to land a few vicious body checks per game.
10 - Curtis Lazar
Another player who will log quality minutes, likely on the fourth line, and one whose points productivity may have surprised some last season when he ended the year with 25 total. Curtis Lazar is another one who will land a few body checks per contest, and there’s a 100 percent chance he will thrive in the defensive zone - just 29 goals against and a 92.1 on-ice save percentage at even strength last season.
9 - Stefan Noesen
Stefan Noesen was one acquisition (or re-acquisition) I liked a lot, and he could find himself back in Newark for a while. Noesen set career-highs in points in each of the last two seasons with 36 and 37, respectively, and last season, he was one of the better depth forwards for the Carolina Hurricanes. It will be more than compelling to see how he improves the Devils lower lines this year.
8 - Tomas Tatar
Maybe I ranked Tomas Tatar too highly following what was a pedestrian season for the 34-year-old, but I’m also factoring in his time in New Jersey previously, when he gave the Devils an adequate 35 goals and 78 points in 158 games.
7 - Erik Haula
Erik Haula’s scoring isn’t the most impressive, but it’s been respectable throughout his time in Newark. He excels in the faceoff circle and has won at least 54.2 percent of his faceoffs throughout the last two seasons.
6 - Ondrej Palat
Ondrej Palat has been the definition of solid for the Devils over the past two seasons, and it’s something that will continue in 2024-25. Last year, 49.5 percent of his starts at even strength came in the offensive zone, yet he finished the year with an encouraging 54.1 percent Corsi For, something that will more than benefit a team capable of scoring a lot for this upcoming season.