After a year riddled with injuries the Devils will want their players as full health to get back to where they want to be. The team finished seventh in the Metro Division, a drastic change in comparison to the previous year when they made it to round two of the Playoffs. Multiple core players were on Injury Reserve at some point. Others were playing while they were noticeably not at their best. Ideally, the team will want their players to all return from the offseason in good condition. Players returning without injuries combined with recent free agency signings could turn the Devils back into a cup contending team.
The Devils Are Better At Full Health
The Return of Dougie Hamilton
Hamilton’s season came to very premature end in December after he underwent surgery for a torn left pectoral muscle. He’s entering his fourth season of a seven year contract this Fall. The 6’6″ defenceman was a part of the team’s second power play unit and frequently played 3-on-3 during overtime. Hamilton was responsible for two game winning goals in overtime during the 2022-23 season. His strong offensive ability has made him an asset when it comes to either scoring goals or recording assists. When it comes to making plays from the back end, that’s what was sorely missing this past season. When it was confirmed Hamilton was out for the rest of the year, he had 16 points in 20 games. In his absence, Simon Nemec was in his place. For a rookie, Nemec did well in his role and did not show signs of being a rookie. It was a breath of fresh air with Hamilton out.
Another Chance to Show Some First-Overall Talent
Dougie Hamilton wasn’t the only Devil whose season was cut short. Jack Hughes’ season was full of ups and downs. Starting with an injury caused by being slammed into the boards that caused him to miss five games. A couple of months later he was out with an upper-body injury but returned after 11 games. In April the team announced that he was out for the rest of the season and was getting shoulder surgery. The operation went successfully and Tom Fitzgerald did confirm they expect him to be at full health and ready for training camp.
On how Jack is doing #NJDevils Fitzgerald says:
“Successful operation, surgery. With that, he stayed out in Vail a few extra days for rehab. He’s back in Michigan and he will make a full recovery. I do expect a player who comes back w/ a lot of energy, feeling great, stronger.”
— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) April 18, 2024
The Clock Is Ticking…It’s Timo Time
The Devils health turns to the teams forward group. After being acquired by the Devils in a trade made with San Jose last year, Timo Meier quickly became an integral part of the team. He’s one of the team’s more physical players which is something the team slighting lacks in. Meier’s physicality and his ability to get close to the net have been extremely beneficial. He’s also someone who seems very aware of everything happening around him, and keeps his head up as he drives pucks to the net. He was injured back in November but the recovery period was short term. it wasn’t until after the season ended, when it was revealed that he was getting arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder.
The main takeaway here is that the New Jersey Devils are a team capable of winning the cup. Last year it was injuries, among other problems that were holding them back. When core players such as Hamilton, Hughes and Meier return they’ll be able to utilize their potential to the fullest.
Main Photo: John Jones-USA TODAY Sports
