The offseason, and all the movement that comes with it, is all but wrapped up, and the big news is in the past. It’s this time of the year when the focus shifts towards the fall, and the season ahead that comes with it. The New Jersey Devils have some in-house things to take care of on their own but they also fall into this category. That said, there are some lingering questions when taking a look at this roster.
Can Devils Offense Stay Without Hughes?
The classic line about the Devils every season is “If they can stay healthy,” or specifically, “If Jack Hughes stays healthy, the offense will be great.” It’s true since the Devils saw what a full season of Hughes brings to the offense as they were a top-of-the-league group in 2022-23. The reality is that the Devils aren’t the type of team that can and will remain healthy all season.
Injuries are inevitable, and the question is whether the offense will fall off, as it did last season, without Hughes. He’s the driving force in the offense and sets the tone when he’s on the ice. The other forwards are good, yet he’s the one who makes everyone around him better.
It’s why this remains an unknown for this team. The Devils hope they’ll be fine and hope that Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier can pick up the slack if there’s an injury to their star center. Yet, they didn’t add that reinforcement, and they must if they plan on making a Cup run (and they do).
Can Luke Hughes Be The Driving Force at the Point?
The same injury question can be asked about the defense. Specifically, if Dougie Hamilton is injured, who steps up at the number one defenseman? Hamilton, like Hughes, has battled injuries in recent seasons and will likely miss time this season as well (considering his history since signing with the Devils).
Luke Hughes is the defenseman who can make up for that. He’s a great skater who moves the puck well, and last season, he started to emerge as the top two-way defenseman. With the season around the corner, the expectation is for him to come into camp ready to take on that role.
It’s why it’s surprising that the Devils didn’t re-sign him yet. Hughes is a restricted free agent (RFA) and still available for any team to sign (forcing the Devils to match the offer or he leaves). If he’s the future of the blue line, the assumption is he gets a contract that reflects that.
Did The Devils Address Depth Needs?
Losing Erik Haula flies under the radar. He was a reliable power forward who centered the middle-six lines. The Devils must replace him and make sure the depth is also good enough to compete with the elite teams in the NHL.
The Devils have the same two issues every season with their depth. Either it can score but doesn’t play physical hockey, or it can play that physical game but can’t score. It’s why the Devils must find forwards who can do both.
That’s what they did with the Connor Brown and the Evgenii Dadonov signings. Those forwards can score and play in all situations, especially Brown, who was used by the Edmonton Oilers to kill penalties and step up in the defensive zone. The question remains about the third-line center spot. However, the Devils have the pieces in place to have a good bottom six.
The Big-Picture Question
Looking at the Devils, they still lack that player, or multiple players, who can put them over the hump. This is a team good enough to make the playoffs and possibly end up with the best record in the Metropolitan Division. They aren’t good enough to beat a team like the Carolina Hurricanes, who they’ll inevitably face at some point.
It’s why the Devils must make the big trade or try to make a risky addition, knowing it can backfire. They need a power forward in the top six who can not only take the pressure off of Hughes but also take over playoff games.
Until then, the Devils will remain a good team that will dominate games in the regular season with an exciting core. Unfortunately, if the goal is to win the Cup (and it is), they will keep coming up short. It’s why this lingering question will probably be addressed ahead of the trade deadline, especially since the window for this team to contend is now.
