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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 Rocky W. Widner/NHL/Getty Images /

Projected Lineup

How will the New Jersey Devils look this season? Trios and pairings were used with the help of the line tool from Corsica.

Forwards

Taylor Hall – Nico Hischier – Kyle Palmieri

Marcus Johansson – Pavel Zacha – Jesper Bratt

Blake Coleman – Travis Zajac – Stefan Noesen

Miles Wood* – Brian Boyle – Drew Stafford

*currently unsigned

Extra forward: John Quenneville

The Devils, much like last season, will have an amazing top line. It’ll easily be one of the best in the NHL if they replicate their success from last season. Bratt and Palmieri could swap places, but I’m not sure the Devils can afford to not have the latter on the top line.

A healthy Johansson should help stabilize the second line. Bratt was great before the All-Star break (30 points in 47 games), but far less productive after it (five points in 27 games). Ironically, Zacha was the opposite. He posted just 12 points in 41 games before the All-Star break, but had 13 points in 28 games after it.

Zajac and Noesen struggled early, but once Coleman got added to the trio, it was one of the Devils best forward lines. They can handle defensive zone starts, but the Devils really need them to step up as far as offense.

Wood isn’t signed, which isn’t a good thing for New Jersey. Though he’s in a fourth-line role, he’s a guy who could help the Devils maintain their success. Wood might be a one-trick pony, but his one trick is goal scoring, which is extremely important. Quenneville could replace him if he remains unsigned.

Related Story. Top 10 Devils Prospects. light

Defensemen

Andy Greene – Sami Vatanen

Will Butcher – Damon Severson

Mirco Mueller – Steven Santini

Extra defenseman candidates: Ben Lovejoy, Eric Gryba

That top pairing struggled mightily last season, as they didn’t break even in shot attempts or goals. My suspicion is Greene’s the primary issue, as Vatanen posted a positive relative CorsiFor percentage with Moore in 237 minutes.

Their second pairing is probably better than their first one. If Devils head coach John Hynes uses Butcher and Severson together, he’ll have at least one very reliable pairing. While their goals for percentage looks bad, their expected goals suggest they’re better than their goals for percentage claims.

Santini needs to be paired with a puck mover. Unfortunately, the Devils don’t have many options there.

Goaltenders

Cory Schneider

Keith Kinkaid

Eddie Lack

Schneider won’t be ready to start the season, so it’ll be up to Kinkaid to continue his magical run from last season. Neither goaltender posted impressive numbers and the Devils team save percentage ranked 15th out of 31 last season. They’ll need better goaltending than that to make the postseason again.

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