Haula sees opportunity for deep Stanley Cup Playoff run for Devils

EDINA, Minn. -- Erik Haula thinks the New Jersey Devils are on the cusp of a deep run in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

With the additions of forwards Tyler Toffoli and Tomas Nosek, and defenseman Colin Miller, Haula feels the Devils are poised for a special season in 2023-24.

"Last year was a really fun year," Haula said Wednesday at Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer league for collegiate and NHL players with ties to Minnesota. "We definitely exceeded a lot of expectations for individuals, and as a team. Now just looking at some of the offseason moves to help build on last year, we're excited."

Haula signed a three-year, $9.45 million contract ($3.15 million average annual value) on June 23 to remain with the Devils. Despite the departures of defensemen Damon Severson and Ryan Graves, and forwards Jesper Boqvist and Miles Wood during the offseason, the 32-year-old is confident about what the Devils can accomplish this season.

"We can't pretend that we didn't lose some key pieces that were a big part of what we accomplished last year," said Haula, who had 41 points (14 goals, 27 assists) in 80 regular-season games and six points (four goals, two assists) in 12 playoff games. "But that's just an opportunity for everyone to take it to the next level. We've got a lot of young talent and I'm excited to get back and really settle in with New Jersey."

Haula points to forward Jack Hughes as a notable player who he believes will continue to get better. Last season, his fourth in the NHL, Hughes had 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists) in 78 regular-season games as New Jersey (52-22-8) finished with the most wins and points (112) in its history. He also had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games as the Devils reached the Eastern Conference Second Round, where they were eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games.

"Honestly, I didn't really know what kind of player he was or how good he was when I got there," Haula said. "He's had some broken seasons early on his career, and probably a bit of a learning curve for him and his body and what it takes to get through it in an NHL season at his size (5-foot-11, 175 pounds), but wow, what a performance he had all last year. And he didn't slow down in the playoffs. It was really fun to play with him, and I look forward to building that relationship more and have success together in New Jersey.

"I don't think we've seen the best of him yet."

Haula said Toffoli's addition is two-fold. The 31-year-old was acquired in a trade with the Calgary Flames on June 27 for forward Yegor Sharangovich and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft (forward Video: The NHL Tonight crew discuss the Devils' turnaround ).

Toffoli led the Flames last season in goals (34), points (73), power-play points (25) and shots on goal (268). He also brings a championship pedigree from winning the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014, and he also helped the Montreal Canadiens reach the Final in 2021. That experience is something Haula said will be immeasurable with a group that had several key players skate in their first NHL postseason games last season.

"He's won, and he's been in a lot of tough games, he's been in the playoffs a lot and has been playing in the League a long time," Haula said. "It's hard to get a player of that caliber in the offseason, so we're lucky to have him. He brings that veteran experience that we're going to need."

Haula, who was acquired by the Devils in a trade with the Boston Bruins for forward Pavel Zacha on July 13, 2022, also hopes to contribute as a leader.

Selected by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round (No. 182) of the 2009 NHL Draft, Haula has 281 points (126 goals, 155 assists) in 614 regular-season games for the Devils, Bruins, Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Hurricanes, Vegas Golden Knights and Wild, and 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) in 73 playoff games. He played in the Final with the Golden Knights in 2018.

"We're a young team," he said. "I've been around a lot and seen a lot of different teams and have been in a lot of different scenarios, so I like to think that I'll be able to bring something that they didn't necessarily have before."