It’s finally September, which means hockey is right around the corner. Training camp will begin and then preseason action will follow. It should be an exciting season for the New Jersey Devils in 2024-25.
The Devils have brought in Sheldon Keefe to be the new bench boss. Also, general manager Tom Fitzgerald added some new faces to the bunch. The team is in much better place to succeed and should be able to perform better than the 2023-24 season. Let’s take a look at the lineup projections for the 2024-25 Devils team.
Devils Lineup Projections
Forwards
Tatar-Hischier-Bratt
Meier-Hughes-Mercer
Palat-Haula-Noesen
Cotter-Lazar-Bastian
Top-Six Group
Keefe will have no shortage of options when constructing this lineup. The first two lines for the Devils have no shortage of talent either. There is balance with these lines and familiarity.
Placing Tomas Tatar on the top line with Hischier and Bratt reunited a line that was great for the Devils during the 2022-23 season. Together, they finished the regular season with a 64.5 expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) and averaged 4.02 expected goals for per 60 minutes. They scored right at their expected rate and was a force for the Devils in that season. Given how deep this forward group is, it can afford Timo Meier to slot down to the second line.
Jack Hughes can play with just about anybody. Hughes is a premiere playmaker and is completely dynamic with the puck on his stick. Pairing Hughes with the sniper in Meier gives the Devils a lethal combination upfront. Meier battled numerous injuries during the 2023-24 season and could never quite regain his prolific scoring touch he has become known for. However, to end the season Meier finished with 26 points in the final 23 games and led the team in goals. A healthy Meier can do wonders for this team.
Also, pairing the workhorse that is Dawson Mercer should give the Devils balance in the top six. Hughes had instant success with Tyler Toffoli, so a full year with a healthy Meier should pay dividends.
Bottom-Six Group
This third line could be one of the better third lines across the entire league. Talk about a line that could work hard and wear down the opposition. You have the speedy forechecker in Erik Haula, the two-way winger in Ondrej Palat, and ann underrated effective power forward in Stefan Noesen. This a line that can cause chaos below the faceoff circles and excel in the high-danger areas.
Specifically, Noesen loves to park himself at the front of the net, so expecting a lot of dirty goals isn’t out of the question. Palat also saw good chemistry with Hischier and Bratt, so there is a chance he can swap with Tatar.
It may sound extremely cliche, but the Devils added necessary grit and physicality to the bottom of the lineup. Lazar now gets full time fourth line center duties and Bastian flanks him. This is another line that will forecheck hard and try to wear down the opponent. Adding to the mix is Paul Cotter.
Not only can Cotter provide impactful depth scoring, he brings a physical brand of hockey to the table. His 233 hits were the second most on the Vegas Golden Knights and would’ve been first on the Devils by a wide mile. Ironically, Lazar finished second in that regard, so a line that will punish their opponents will be evident with this trio.
Other potential options are Nolan Foote, Kurtis McDermid, and Max Willman.
Defense
Siegenthaler-Hamilton
Hughes-Pesce
Dillon-Nemec
The best part about this Devils defensive group is they have balance on each pair. There is a player you can count on for offense and then a player that is your reliable shutdown player.
Top-Four Pair
Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler have been a pair since Hamilton made his arrival to the Garden State. They’ve shown to have great chemistry and it’s the perfect recipe to have success. During the 2023-24 season, they finished with an xGF% of 56.9. Hamilton will bring the offensive upside and bring his cannon of a slap shot and Siegenthaler can bring the shutdown presence. Siegenthaler is coming off a down year, so seeing him rebound will be huge for the club. A healthy Hamilton makes the team better and in all areas of the game itself.
Luke Hughes is going into his sophomore year. There is a lot to like about his game. He was thrown into the fire during the 2023-24 season and did well. Hughes finished the year with nine goals and 47 points, while having 25 points on the power play. He will have the chance to further showcase his offensive abilities, as he has a veteran presence on his pair.
Brett Pesce is not going to blow you away with his offensive production, but he is positionally sound defensively. He and Brady Skjei helped the Hurricanes form a reliable second pair. Just a solid and experienced reliable defenseman who excels in defending the transition game.
Bottom Pair
Much like Hughes, Simon Nemec was thrown into the line of fire and did well. He was able to shoulder heavier minutes, averaging nearly 20 minutes of ice time a night. He isn’t the same offensive dynamo as Hughes, but can produce. His defensive ability, although still a work in progress, should continue to progress turning the corner No. 2 overall pick into a solid two-way option.
To give him so extra comfort, signing Brenden Dillon is enormous for the club. Dillon is a pure shutdown defenseman and is known for his physicality. The Devils definitely did their job to beef up their lineup and adding Dillon does just that. Dillon might be a fan favorite when all is said and done and gives the Devils a needed veteran presence on the back end.
Other potential defensive options are Jonathan Kovacevic (RHD), Santeri Hattaka (LHD), and Nick DeSimone (RHD).
Goalies
Markstrom
Allen
The Devils have a new tandem and it should instill optimism within the fan base. For a position that has plagued the Devils for a few seasons now, it should be solidified and enter the league as one of the top duos in the league.
Jake Allen was a bright spot acquisition for the Devils at the trade deadline. He was a much-needed improvement, finishing with a 1.19 goals saved above expected.
The first order of business for general manager Tom Fitzgerald during the offseason was acquiring a goalie. Finally after all the buzz, Jacob Markstrom became a Devil.
The Devils are getting a bonafide number one goaltender. Markstrom finished the year with the Flames with a whopping 16.51 goals saved above expected. One place he excels is in the high-danger area. Markstrom finished the season with a .850 save percentage in that area of the ice; which is toward the top in the league.
The Devils never needed elite goaltending to win, but above average goaltending. Now, they have a proven veteran tandem leading the way and the sky is the limit for them.
The third potential option, in the event of injury, is Nico Daws.
Final Thoughts
The sky is the limit for the New Jersey Devils. They have a new coach and are most importantly fully healthy. Getting key pieces back that were missing last year is going to be important for the team. Also, with all the new faces coming into the fold, the Devils have one of the deeper lineups heading into what is a wide-open Eastern Conference.