The 2024-25 season has come and gone for the New Jersey Devils. After an up-and-down regular season, that resulted in a playoff berth, the banged up and battered Devils took the Carolina Hurricanes to five games, losing the final game of their season in overtime.
Beginning with the forward group, how did each player on the Devils perform this season? The below, part I, will include the first eight of 16 Devils forwards to play in a meaningful amount of game this season. Meanwhile, part II, released at a later date, will include the remaining eight.
Nathan Bastian
Offensively, it was some of the same for the now 27-year-old Nathan Bastian. Bastian’s scoring pace was slightly off his career numbers (10 points in 59 games) and his overall offensive impacts were once again very poor.
However, as has been the case in season’s past, Bastian’s defensive metrics were quite strong, including stellar play on the penalty kill. According to Evolving Hockey’s goals above replacement (GAR) metrics, Bastian’s defensive on-ice impacts ranked in the league’s 95th percentile. Specifically, his defensive GAR rating per 60 minutes ranked 16th among 468 qualified forwards in the NHL this season.
Grade: C-
Jesper Bratt
Jesper Bratt continues to be one of the most underrated players in the league. After setting a career-high point total in 2023-24, Bratt followed it up with another career high in 2024-25, as he posted 88 points in 81 games. Additionally, of those 88 points, 67 were assists, which not only ranked fifth in the league, but also set a franchise, single-season record.
Interestingly enough, despite the record-breaking season, Bratt’s on-ice metrics actually took a step back from where they have been. The main reason why was a regression in defensive play. Bratt’s on-ice defensive metrics ranked in the league’s sixth percentile. This area of Bratt’s game has been on the steady decline since 2022-23, where he placed in the 33rd percentile.
Grade: A
Paul Cotter
Acquired in exchange for forward Alexander Holtz and goaltender Akira Schmid, Paul Cotter started the season red hot before cooling off heavily to end it. The 25-year-old had six goals in his first 13 games to go along with eight total points. Following that, he had only 14 points, and 10 goals, over his last 66 games of the year.
Cotter’s on-ice metrics were serviceable, as they overall ranked in the league’s 43rd percentile; ranking better defensively, in the 78th percentile. Cotter was brought to the team to provide strong depth at the bottom of the lineup. A fast start may have distorted realistic expectations.
Grade: C+
Justin Dowling
Who would have thought that 34-year-old Justin Dowling would play in 52 regular season games and all five postseason games for the Devils in 2024-25? Across those regular season games, Dowling only played 10:13 of ice time per night, tallying seven points.
His on-ice metrics painted a troublesome picture. As, despite being league-average defensively, he had one of the worst offensive on-ice impacts in the league. His offensive GAR rating per 60 minutes ranked 16th worst among 444 qualified forwards. Overall, his on-ice metrics ranked in the league’s third percentile.
Grade: D
Cody Glass
Before the trade deadline, the Devils acquired forward Cody Glass in exchange for forward prospects Chase Stillman and Max Graham, as well as a 2027 third-round pick. Glass provided some much-needed depth down the stretch for New Jersey, scoring at a 41 point pace over a small 14 game sample.
Glass’s 53.90 expected goals-for percentage at five-on-five after coming over from the Penguins was the fifth-best mark on the Devils. Specifically, he excelled defensively, as his 2.12 expected goals against per 60 minutes fifth among Devils forwards. On the season, including his Penguins’ performances, Glass owned a defensive on-ice impact that ranked in the league’s 96th percentile.
Grade: B+
Erik Haula
It was a tough 2024-25 for the veteran Erik Haula. From a scoring perspective, he posted one of the worst rates of his career, with only 21 points in 69 games. His defensive impacts at five-on-five were also poor, coming in below replacement level.
Haula’s saving grace was his terrific work on the penalty kill and his performance in the playoffs. Haula’s shorthanded defense GAR rating was the fourth-highest in the league. He was one of the best penalty killers in the NHL this season. Then, in the playoffs, Haula’s 65.69 xGF% was the second-best on the team.
Given Haula’s performances increased as the season went on, and into the playoffs, one has to wonder how much a midseason ankle injury disrupted his season.
Grade: C
Nico Hischier
From an on-ice value perspective, Nico Hischier‘s 2024-25 season was tied for the most valuable of his career as far as GAR goes and by far the most valuable of his career as far as expected GAR (xGAR) is concerned. Hischier’s 31.2 xGAR this season was the second highest in the league, trailing only Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl. For comparison, Hischier’s 31.2 total was higher than the likes of Cale Makar (26.9), Quinn Hughes (26.4), Connor McDavid (21.9), and 923 total who appeared in a NHL games this past season.
Hischier’s 35 goals were a career high and his 69 points in 75 games was the second most of his career. As the above mentioned analytics show, the traditional numbers don’t do Hischier justice, as his elite offensive play warranted a lot more tangible production.
The interesting aspect of Hischier’s season was his defensive on-ice metrics ranked in the league’s 41st percentile. His five-on-five defensive metrics were above replacement level, but he did not grade out well shorthanded. Granted, these performances always came against the opposition’s best.
Grade: A+
Jack Hughes
Another shoulder injury ended an elite season for the Devils’ superstar Jack Hughes. Hughes was on pace for 93 points and over 30 goals before his season ended. Not only was the offensive there once again, but Hughes was putting up by far his best two-way season of his career.
Hughes’ defensive on-ice metrics ranked in the league’s 85th percentile and he was rightfully rewarded for it with some penalty kill time. Couple that elite defensive impact with a 92nd percentile offensive on-ice metrics, and Hughes was playing as one of the best players in the entire league at the time of his injury. His xGAR, despite only playing 68 games, ranked 11th in the league.
Grade: A+