Devils’ Roster Is Built to Contend

The New Jersey Devils had one of the most active summers of any NHL team. And that should’ve been expected with how they ended last season at the bottom of the league. It also was no time to sit back, with Taylor Hall entering the final year of his contract. General manager Ray Shero needed to make moves to show they’re serious about contending soon, and he wasted no time. So where does the team stand after their busy offseason?

Devils’ Forwards Set up for Improvement

Shero’s biggest moves this summer came up front, and he did it in different ways. It started by drafting center Jack Hughes with the first overall pick at June’s Entry Draft. The next move came during free agency when right winger Wayne Simmonds signed a one-year deal worth $5 million. Things concluded when the Devils linked up with the Vegas Golden Knights to acquire left-winger Nikita Gusev, the reigning KHL MVP. 

There’s a reason why the 2019 draft class was dubbed “The Hughes Draft.” He broke numerous records, whether it was with the U.S. under-18 National Team or in the USHL, finishing with 187 points in 92 games across all competitions. He has the potential to be a cornerstone player for the Devils. And while it may take a little time for him to adjust to life in the NHL as a rookie, there’s no doubt he’ll be a significant contributor right away. 

Simmonds finished this past season with 30 points in 79 games, his worst total since 2010-11, where he finished with 30 points in 80 games. His decline in production wasn’t a case of bad luck, either, as his five-on-five scoring rates have dropped in each season since he tied a career-high in points (60) in 2015-16.

Even with the declining scoring rates, Simmonds still managed to tally 17 goals in 2018-19. He knows how to create havoc in front of the net and should still manage to score some goals as a result. This will be especially true on the power play, where he should help the most. 

Finally, there’s Schneider and Blackwood. Schneider had the highest of highs and lowest of lows last season, at one point having an SV% of .852, before finishing strong. If late-season Schneider shows up, then the Devils will be fine. And the same is true if Blackwood proves the start to his NHL career wasn’t a fluke. 

So are they a playoff team? It’d be a stretch to say they’re a lock, but the potential is there if everything falls into place the right way. They’ve added more talent, and they should be playing meaningful games in March and April. And given the work Shero put in, it’ll be a disappointment if they aren’t. 

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Advanced stats from Natural Stat Trick, Evolving Hockey