Way-too-early New Jersey Devils Opening Night forward lines predictions
The New Jersey Devils did not sit on their hands this season, making outstanding changes to all groups on the NHL roster. However, there is still no clear direction for the top forward lines. So, how do we expect the lines to shake out for opening night?
The New Jersey Devils did not sit idly by during this offseason, making changes at every single level. They took away some question marks in Alexander Holtz, Tyler Toffoli (at the deadline), and Tomas Nosek/Chris Tierney (felt like the same person in the NHL last season), and replaced them with Paul Cotter, Stefan Noesen, and Tomas Tatar. The Devils tried to get a massive fish in free agency, but it didn't work out with Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault. It is what it is.
Just because the Devils don't have six solidified top-six forwards doesn't mean they won't have an insane top six. They have four mega stars offensively. They have two amazing centers in Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. The question is, how do the pieces fall around them?
Line 1
Jesper Bratt - Nico Hiscier - Timo Meier
There is one thing that HAS to happen with the lines this season. The Devils must keep Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt together. There is no other way about it. They cannot be broken up unless we see an on-ice reason to do it.
Natural Stat Trick says they’ve played 224 minutes together at 5v5. Despite goalies stopping pucks less than 87 percent of the time in those minutes, they still outscored their opponents 18 to 15. Meier on the ice without Bratt saw 27 goals scored and… (checks the stats again because this seems preposterous) 43 goals against. Meier had such a rough time away from Bratt. He’s worth too much to this team to mess around with him.
We chose to keep Bratt and Meier with Nico Hischier. We understand that one of the reasons Tom Fitzgerald signed Tomas Tatar was his chemistry with Hischier, but we can’t build lineups that way. The Devils have to make sure it works across the board. Hischier with Bratt and Meier was magic. Now imagine what they look like with a competent coach, a good defense, and a goalie who can make stops. This year should be fun.
Line 2
Paul Cotter - Jack Hughes - Dawson Mercer
Wait! Don’t leave! Hear us out on this one.
Paul Cotter was brought in to be a “bottom-six” forward to bring grit and toughness to the lineup. However, that’s not exactly what he’s been playing for the past two seasons. He spent more time with William Karlsson than anyone. He hit more than 400 minutes with Karlsson and more than 230 minutes with Mark Stone over the last two seasons.
Cotter was a true jack of all trades on the Knights. He played with 20 different line combinations to start games. He played with everyone, with his most common line being Cotter-Karlsson-Michael Amadio. Cotter can play at the top of lineups and with supremely talented players.
But truthfully, this is a prediction of what Sheldon Keefe would do, not what Pucks and Pitchforks will do. We think Keefe falls in love with what Cotter can do, finds a reason that he can keep up with Jack Hughes, and Dawson Mercer adds the dynamic forward who can make things happen or get open for Hughes.
There’s also the obvious take that Keefe thinks Cotter can “protect” Hughes. Both Mercer and Cotter can take faceoffs if they don’t want Hughes to do it. And truthfully, while they won’t take defenders away from Hughes, the defensemen like Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Simon Nemec will. Keefe can get creative with his forwards. This might not last, but we think they try it out on opening night.
Line 3
Ondrej Palat - Erik Haula - Tomas Tatar
The Devils had some variation of this line over and over again last season, and it didn’t really work out. It doesn’t know what it’s trying to do, but Keefe will do a better job of giving it a clear role. This line is trying to gain possession, and play matchups by just having the puck for as long as possible. Erik Haula can win faceoffs. Ondrej Palat does not make glaring mistakes. Tomas Tatar has crazy good offensive instincts in the regular season. They can set up the rest of the lineup for success.
Of course, most did not expect the Devils to sign Tatar just to pair him with Haula and Palat, but this veteran line makes too much sense.
Palat is looking to have a bounce-back season, and there’s a non-zero chance the Devils try him in the top six to start, but his best role is as a shutdown guy with a little offensive upside in the bottom six. Who cares about his contract at this point. Just get this man to the playoffs healthy and let him cook.
This line probably ends up switching places with the fourth line in which plays the fewest minutes. However, these are three veterans who at times have proved to be really good in New Jersey. Palat less so, but his performance in the playoffs against the Rangers was stellar. Haula was fantastic in 22-23, as was Tatar. They just need to find that level of play.
Line 4
Nolan Foote - Curtis Lazar - Stefan Noesen
One might think it’s insane to sign Stefan Noesen to a three-year deal worth close to $3 million per season just to throw him on the fourth line, but the situation is never as it seems. The fourth line often gets the third-most minutes, and this line would definitely fight for that. Noesen and Curtis Lazar would have chemistry for days. They would be able to turn opposing teams upside down with their style.
We have Nathan Bastian and Nolan Foote fighting for the last lineup spot. We think this becomes a narrative all season, but right at the beginning, Foote wins the spot. Bastian has to figure out what his role will be from night one.
The Devils also have Kurtis MacDermid, but he’s truly here just to provide a hard-nosed mentality for a few games per season. There’s no reason to start him off against the Buffalo Sabres unless they are trying to send a message to Lindy Ruff. He will be a healthy scratch (or more) on more nights than not.
We have a sneaky feeling that Foote-Lazar-Noesen will become the fan-favorite line. They will use board battles to create offense and seldom make mistakes that hurt them on the other side of the ice.
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