Three questions facing New Jersey Devils

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, three important questions facing the New Jersey Devils.

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1. Is the goalie situation finally settled?
Lingering health issues have hurt incumbent starter Mackenzie Blackwood the past two seasons. After a promising rookie season in 2019-20, when he was 22-14-8 with a 2.77 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 47 games, the 25-year-old was 14-17-4 with a 3.04 GAA and .902 save percentage in 35 games in 2020-21 and 9-10-4 with a 3.39 GAA and .892 save percentage in 25 games last season. General manager Tom Fitzgerald said he expects Blackwood to be better this season.
"He was hit really hard by COVID-19 (in January, 2021) and still had a pretty good year, and then he had the ankle surgery (June, 2021) and the recovery was a little longer, and things kind of snowballed," Fitzgerald said. "He knows how I feel about him as my goaltender, and he wants to be our guy. We believe he's not only going to have a rebound year, but a great year."
As insurance, the Devils acquired goalie Vitek Vanecek in a trade with the Washington Capitals on July 8. Vanecek was 20-12-6 with a 2.67 GAA, .908 save percentage and four shutouts in 42 games (39 starts) for Washington last season. The Devils also have Jonathan Bernier, who is entering the final season of a two-year contract. Bernier played 10 games before being placed on injured reserve Dec. 10 because of a hip injury that ended his season.

2. How much have the Devils improved from last season?
New Jersey did a lot to upgrade its top-nine forward group and defensive depth with size and experience, and could challenge for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs by getting solid goaltending and remaining relatively healthy. After trading for Vanecek, the Devils acquired 31-year-old forward Erik Haula (5-foot-11, 191 pounds; nine NHL seasons) in a trade with the Boston Bruins, then signed 33-year-old defenseman Brendan Smith (6-2, 200; 11 seasons) to a two-year contract and 31-year-old forward Ondrej Palat (6-0, 194; 10 seasons), a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning, to a five-year contract. They acquired 25-year-old defenseman John Marino (6-1, 181; three seasons) in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
New Jersey also hired Andrew Brunette as an associate coach. Brunette, who is expected to run the power play, finished second in voting last season for the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year with the Florida Panthers, behind Darryl Sutter of the Calgary Flames.
3. Which prospects will earn key spots in the lineup after training camp?
Forwards Alexander Holtz and Fabian Zetterlund are ready to play more prominent roles. Holtz, chosen No. 7 in the 2020 NHL Draft, had 51 points (26 goals, 25 assists) in 52 regular-season games with Utica of the American Hockey League last season. Zetterlund, a second-round pick (No. 63) in the 2017 NHL Draft, had 52 points (24 goals, 28 assists) in 58 games for Utica, leading the team in power-play goals (eight) and game-winning goals (seven).
Defenseman Simon Nemec, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, could challenge for a spot, but the expectation is he will spend this season with Utica. Defenseman
Luke Hughes
, chosen No. 4 in the 2021 NHL Draft, will play a second season at the University of Michigan.