Way-too-early New Jersey Devils Opening Night forward lines predictions

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.