Devils 2022-23 Season Preview | FEATURE

A new season is upon us, a season in which the Devils will be looking backward and forward.
Looking back at four decades of Devils hockey. Looking back at Hall of Fame superstars in the Black and Red. Looking back at countless memories. Looking back at three Stanley Cup championships.
Looking ahead to the 40th Anniversary of Devils hockey this season. Looking ahead to a new budding crop of superstar players in the Black and Red. Looking ahead to the countless memories to come. Looking ahead to one day competing for a Stanley Cup championship.
The Devils faithful are full of hope and optimism on the precipice of the 2022-23 season. And there is a lot of reason behind that sentiment. Devils general manager Tom Fitzgerald was hard at work this summer improving the club's roster and coaching staff. The Devils have the potential to make some noise.
Of course, there will be a lot of factors, such as injuries, that will dictate the team's success this season. Here's a breakdown of the team and what is (possibly) ahead for the Devils.

Ch-ch-ch-changes
Every season brings change. And New Jersey underwent a lot of change over the summer, both on and off the ice.
The Devils parted ways with forwards Pavel Zacha (trade), Janne Kuokkanen (buy out), Jimmy Vesey (free agency) and A.J. Greer (free agency) and defensemen P.K. Subban (retirement), Ty Smith (trade) and Colton White (free agency).
Fitzgerald added forwards Erik Haula (trade - Zacha) and Ondrej Palat (free agent), defensemen John Marino (trade - Smith) and Brendan Smith (free agent) and goaltender Vitek Vanecek (traded - draft picks).
On the bench, the Devils parted ways with assistant coaches Alain Nasreddine (unsigned) and Mark Recchi (relieved). The Devils added three coaches to the staff in associate coach Andrew Brunette and assistant coaches Ryan McGill and Sergei Brylin. Assistant coach Chris Taylor and goaltending coach Dave Rogalski remain on Lindy Ruff's staff from last season.
So, what does all of this mean? Let's break it down.

1a-1b
The Devils Achilles' heel last season (and arguably the past two seasons) has been their goaltending situation. Every off-season the club has tried to address the situation by adding a complimentary piece to play alongside Mackenzie Blackwood.
Stanley Cup winner Corey Crawford was signed, only to retire on the eve of the regular season. Last year, Jonathan Bernier joined the team, but a hip injury ended his season with just 10 games played all season.
The Devils also lost Blackwood last season to a lingering heel injury that limited him to only 25 games. The Devils were forced to make patchwork of their depth and played a franchise-high seven different goalies (Bernier, Blackwood, Scott Wedgewood, Nico Daws, Akira Schmid, Andrew Hammond, Jon Gillies).
Bernier, who underwent hip surgery in January, is still not healed enough to return to the lineup. As such, the Devils had to once again add a goaltender in the off-season.
Third time may be the charm. On the morning of the NHL Draft in Montreal, the Devils acquired goalkeeper Vitek Vanecek and a draft pick (46th overall - Seamus Casey) from the Washington Capitals in exchange for two Devils' draft picks (37th and 70th).
During the preseason, Vanecek went 4-0 in four starts with a 1.58 goals-against average, .928 save percentage and a 24-save shutout against Boston. Although it's only the preseason, it's an encouraging showing by the 26-year-old Czech.
Meanwhile, his crease partner Blackwood also played well during exhibition play despite playing behind some lopsided lineups. That's another encouraging sign for Blackwood, who appears to be fully recovered from his heel injury and claims there is no longer pain or discomfort.
The 25-year-old Blackwood has the potential to be a top goaltender in the NHL. Vanecek had split time in a 1a-1b scenario the last two seasons in Washington, but he wants to be the top keeper. Vanecek's addition shouldn't just help with depth as a safeguard to injury; it will also add competition for playing time in the net.
Of course, injuries and performance will dictate a lot of the season. But as of now, two quality goaltenders pushing each other and competing for playing time will be a huge asset for the Devils this season.
The Devils couldn't reach their full potential last year due to the instability in goal. If the Devils want to take the next step as a franchise in the quest to return to Stanley Cup contention, their goaltending situation will be paramount. The club's success will hinge on the men in the blue paint.

Veteran Additions
During the Devils' rebuild, they burned it to the ground and went with a full-on youth movement, building the team up from the ashes around Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Yegor Sharangovich and more. Those players, as well as others, are the foundation of the franchise.
But as the youth progresses, Fitzgerald has started to add complimentary pieces in the form of experience, talent and grit to push the franchise forward. It began last season with the additions of Dougie Hamilton, Ryan Graves and Tomas Tatar.
And this past off-season, Fitzgerald acquired Haula, Palat and Smith. The three men have a combined 28 years of NHL experience, two Stanley Cup championships and four Stanley Cup Final appearances. They've all played on championship caliber teams and know what it takes to win. They can impart that knowledge to their neophyte teammates. But the trio will also be assets on the ice.
Haula, 31, has played nine years in the NHL and is a former 29-goal scorer (2017-18, Vegas). The Finn is prolific in the faceoff circle. He has a career winning percentage of 51.9 percent. The last four years saw him go 53.9%, 55.8%, 55.1% and 53.9% at the dot.
Palat, 31, has played nine-plus years and won back-to-back Stanley Cups with Tampa Bay in 2020 and '21. The 6-foot, 190-pound forward plays a rugged, physical and tough style that the Devils coveted for their lineup. The Czech native will do the dirty work for puck battles and in the defensive zone.
Smith, 33, has over 10 years of NHL experience with Detroit, New York Rangers and Carolina. The former first-round pick (15th overall in 2007) adds a gritty and physical element to the defensive corps that the unit had been lacking. He's also a vocal leader on the ice and in the locker room.
Defenseman John Marino, 25, is a young player looking to take a step forward in his career. He'll be entering his fourth season in the NHL after playing with the Pittsburgh Penguins the past three years. Marino is a young, steady and right-shot blueliner that still has five years left on his contract. He'll add stability to the blue line for this season and beyond.
The newest Devils answer the issues (grit, difficult to play against, experience) that the club desired to address. The team will be much improved with them in the lineup.

Progression
The new players will be great compliments to the lineup the Devils have already built. But the strength of the team still lies in the young core of talent the Devils already had in New Jersey. All of whom should only take another step forward in their respective play.
The Devils' offense will be directed by the efforts of Hughes. The 21-year-old first-overall draft pick (2019) set career highs with 26 goals, 30 assists and 56 points, all in just 49 games last year. His game made a huge leap last season, and he expects more of the same this year. After working on his shot all summer, Hughes posted three goals (four points) in four preseason games. Hughes is a true gamebreaker and, if healthy, could challenge for 100 points.
Hischier enters his third season as captain. The 23-year-old Swiss native had a breakout season last year with career highs in goals (21), assists (39) and points (60). Hischier has matured into one of the team's best 200-foot players while winning over 51-percent of his faceoffs the last three years. The first-overall pick in 2017 is still learning and growing as a player.
Bratt, 23, erupted for 26 goals, 47 assists and 73 points (all career highs) last year. The Swede showed an explosive ability to gain separation as a headman on the Devils' transition attack. What's more impressive, 23 of his 26 goals came at even strength. Bratt has an ability to create in all facets of the game.
Sharangovich started last season with a 13-game goalless drought but followed that with 24 goals in 63 games. The 24-year-old has a great shot and ability to finish. Sharangovich has 30-goal potential.
Other young forwards that should take a step forward are Dawson Mercer, 20, entering his second season, Michael McLeod, 24, Nathan Bastian, 24, and Jesper Boqvist, 23. Blueliners Jonas Siegenthaler, 25, Ryan Graves, 27, and Damon Severson, 28, all return one year older and one year wiser. All three of those blueliners set career highs last year offensively.
The Devils are built around their core. And the core is strong.

Bounce Back
Perhaps the biggest addition to the forward unit is a familiar face. Miles Wood will return to the lineup after playing just three games last season due to a hip injury that required surgery. Wood's speed and tenacity are unmatched on this team. He'll provide a jolt of energy for the club.
On the backend, Dougie Hamilton is hoping to put a injury-riddled 2021-22 season behind him. Though it started strong, scoring a goal just 17 seconds into his Devils' debut, a broken jaw and broken toe hindered his year. But the 2021 Second Team All-Star is fully healthy, and it has shown. Hamilton, 29, led the team with five points (2g-3a) and a plus-5 in four preseason games and looked his usual dynamic self.

Future is Present
The competition for roster spots and playing time will be aplenty this season. And some of that competition will be homegrown.
Alexander Holtz made the team out of training camp and is determined to stay in the NHL after a nine-game showing last season. The 20-year-old Swede has a lethal shot, and he isn't afraid to use it. He tallied once in the final preseason game while playing alongside Hughes and Palat. Now, the real work begins: producing and staying in the NHL.
Fabian Zetterlund, 23, is another rookie that will start the year in Jersey. Last season, he notched three goals and eight points in 14 games. Zetterlund tallied 24 goals and 52 points in 58 games with Utica of the American Hockey League. The 5-foot-11, 220-pound sparkplug has unique speed for someone of his stature. He plays with a physical edge and has a high-octane approach.
Defensemen Kevin Bahl (6-foot-6, 230 pounds) and Nikita Okhotiuk (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) will likely make appearances in the NHL throughout the year. Both have dipped a toe in the water and depending on injury and performance, could even get extended looks this season. Bahl has improved his skating and with his height and reach can take away a lot of ice. Okhotiuk plays the game with a physicality that walks the edge.

New Voices
The Devils added some veteran voices to the locker room. But they also added some veteran voices to the bench.
The highest-profile addition was Brunette joining the staff as associate coach. Brunette served as the interim head coach in Florida last season, leading the team to a franchise-record 58 regular-season wins and a second-round playoff appearance. Brunette finished the year as the runner-up for the Jack Adams Award, given to the best coach in the NHL, while garnering 31 first-place votes.
Assistant coach Ryan McGill joins the staff after serving in the same role with the Vegas Golden Knights for the past five years. He will work closely with the Devils' defensemen and PK units.
Last, but certainly not least, is the promotion of Sergei Brylin to the staff after he served a similar role in the American Hockey League for the last decade. Brylin's credentials as a player go without saying, playing his entire 13-year career in New Jersey and winning three Stanley Cups. When he speaks, the players listen.
The fresh voices and perspectives should only help Ruff and the returning staff in making decisions and steering the ship throughout the season.
The Process
The Devils have trusted the process. The foundational core has grown together and is ready to take the next step. The veterans have been added to help push the franchise forward. The pieces are in place.
Now is the time to put it all together on the ice.
As Tom Fitzgerald put it:
"The standard here is high. We need to get to that line. Those players, coaches, myself will push each other every single day to be the best we can. Where that takes us?
"We think we have a good team. Now's our time. Why wait?"