The 2023-24 season is rapidly approaching, and expectations are high for the New Jersey Devils for the first time in a long time. Last year answered many questions regarding the state of the team’s rebuild. However, with championship aspirations a real thing, newer questions have come into the fold.
Five Questions for the New Jersey Devils in 2023-24
Will the offence be as good on the ice as they are on paper?
Last year the Devils were tied for third in the NHL in “Goals For” with 289 per StateMuse. Entering next season there are reasonable expectations that they could score considerably more. Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier all scored 30+ goals, while Dougie Hamilton and Dawson Mercer added 22 and 27 goals respectively. In addition, Timo Meier scored 40 goals between the Devils and San Jose Sharks, while Tyler Toffoli was added to the team and scored 34 goals. Safe to say there are goals in this team.
The big question will be if these players can have repeat, or even better, more productive seasons in 2023-24. Each of the forwards mentioned is capable of scoring 30+ goals. Add to that a full season of Ondrej Palat, the reliability of Erik Haula, and the potential of Alexander Holtz, and there is a realistic shot to push for the top spot in “Goals For.”
Is the Devils’ goaltending a real issue, or something being overblown?
The Devils rode league-average goaltending all the way to the playoffs. However, it more or less collapsed on them when it mattered most. Akira Schmid provided the heroics against the Rangers, but there wasn’t the consistency needed to make a run. That being said, regular season play from Vitek Vanecek was solid, and Schmid and Mackenzie Blackwood were solid enough to compile some wins.
The talk of the summer around the Devils was if they were going to make a move in net. Now just a few weeks out from training camp and nothing. Connor Hellebuyck’s name has been thrown out a bunch, but the Devils aren’t in the expensive goalie rental market. Many people on the outside view their goaltending as a major issue, but a healthy Vanecek and an improving Schmid should be enough to get them over the line. After all the talk in the summer, GM Tom Fitzgerald will look like a genius if they succeed without giving up assets for a veteran. With all its talent, this team likely just needs league-average goaltending to be a top contender.
Is this close to the final form of the Devils?
Over the past few years, the Devils have made massive roster moves. Signing Hamilton and Palat, trading for Meier, John Marino, and Jonas Siegenthaler, and drafting Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec. All moves for both the present and future of the organization. With the team entering their window of contention, how much more tinkering will Fitzgerald feel he needs to do? With most of the core locked in long-term, it will be fascinating to see if they decide to make any Meier or Hamilton-esq moves. Bringing in Tyler Toffoli was a major addition, but he is in the last year of his deal, with Holtz and others waiting in the wings for a top-nine spot.
The only spot that could warrant a big-time move would be in the net. However, there has been little traction or rumours regarding that. It is beginning to look as though the bulk of Fitzgerald’s work is done for the next handful of years. Dawson Mercer and Luke Hughes will get big contract extensions but after that, the focus is on building the depth. With that being said, plans often go off course so it will be interesting to see what the next big move made is.
Who will the organization’s breakout prospect be?
Since the Devil’s rebuild truly kicked off in 2015, drafting and developing have been a major focus. Over the years there have been breakout prospects that have contributed to the team in a big way. Most notable is 2016 sixth-round pick Jesper Bratt, who has become a core piece. Akira Schmid was a fifth-round pick and looks like a gem as well. In recent years, prospects such as Arseni Gritsyuk (2019 fifth round), Josh Filmon (2022 sixth round), and Topias Vilen (2021 fifth round) have all broken out and look like future NHLers.
There are a handful of players that fit the mould of a breakout prospect. Whether they slid down the draft board or have projectable NHL tools, without having put it all together. The first one was their sixth-round pick this past year, defenseman Daniil Karpovich. He’s a two-way defender with size and good mobility, as well as being NHL Central Scouting’s 59th-ranked European skater.
Next up is 2021 fourth-rounder, goalie Jakub Malek. Malek had a 2.15 GAA and a 0.903 SV% playing in the top league in Finland. He was also one of the standouts from the Devils development camp back in early July. With the lack of a high-end goaltending prospect in their system, Malek has a chance to step up and fill the void.
The final prospect to keep an eye on in 2023-24 is 2021 seventh-round forward Zakhar Bardakov. He had a breakout season playing in 42 games for SKA St. Petersburg in the KHL (the top team in Russia). Bardakov joins another standout prospect on St. Petersburg, the previously mentioned Gritsyuk. Despite being a seventh-rounder, he has produced well in a lesser role on the best team in Russia.
Can this team live up to the hype?
The final, and I think biggest question, is if this team can live up to the hype. After a historic turnaround in 2022-23, the Devils now have a bullseye on their back. They won’t sneak up on teams like they did last year. The opposition will see them on their schedule and know they’ll have to step their game up. This means the Devils will be getting most teams’ A game night in and night out. As the season approaches, it will be interesting to see how many of the talking heads in the media choose New Jersey as their “sleeper” team to win the Stanley Cup.
Despite the high expectations, this Devils team has the horses to run with anyone. They’re young, have experience, and should be hungry to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke. They share many similarities with the 2009-10 Chicago Blackhawks. Young and experienced can be a deadly combo. A lot more eyes will be on them this season, and it’ll be up to the core of Hughes, Hischier, Bratt, etc., to prove they can compete with the likes of Carolina, Colorado, and Vegas.
Main Photo Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
