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New Jersey Devils preview: Taylor Hall must lead the way again

By Dave Stevenson

NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils takes a break during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Lightning defeated the Devils 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 18: Taylor Hall #9 of the New Jersey Devils takes a break during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game Four of the Eastern Conference First Round during the 2018 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Prudential Center on April 18, 2018 in Newark, New Jersey. The Lightning defeated the Devils 3-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Photo by Andy Marlin/NHLI via Getty Images /

Due to a suspiciously quiet summer, it will be up to Taylor Hall and an improving young core to carry the New Jersey Devils back to the postseason. 

The New Jersey Devils were by a wide margin the most surprising team in the Eastern Conference last season. They were projected by many to finish towards the bottom of the standings, but wound up making the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Though the Devils lost in the first round to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2017-18 season was undeniably a successful one for them, especially for Taylor Hall, who won the Hart Trophy.

However, after not making any major offseason moves, New Jersey should find it very difficult to make the playoffs again. The Devils still have major issues and this summer saw none of them get corrected.

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That said, New Jersey has some reasons for optimism. First of all, Hall has emerged as a true superstar. He’s an elite talent who can carry the Devils, as he proved last season. Secondly, New Jersey has a surprising young core. Led by 2017 first overall pick Nico Hischier and 2017 Hobey Baker-winning defenseman Will Butcher, the Devils have enough talent to make a return to the postseason plausible.

Offseason Recap

Additions: D Eric Gryba, D John Ramage, F Kurtis Gabriel, F Eric Tangradi, F Drew Stafford (PTO)

Departures: F Brian Gibbons, F Michael Grabner, F Jimmy Hayes, F Patrick Maroon, D John Moore, G Ken Appleby

It’s telling the most meaningful addition the Devils made this summer is someone on a PTO. Stafford put up 15 points in 59 games last season, so don’t expect much from him. He was a healthy scratch down the stretch as well. Gryba is a serviceable extra defenseman, but when he’s arguably the second-best addition you’ve made, that’s not a good sign.

Maroon is someone the Devils will definitely miss. He’s a solid top-six forward and did well with them after the trade deadline. Moore is someone who shouldn’t be missed, but given the state of the Devils blueline, he might be.

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